Alkali-soluble resin, photosensitive resin composition for color filter containing the same and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an alkali-soluble resin (A) and a photosensitive resin composition for a color filter and uses thereof. The photosensitive resin composition includes the alkali-soluble resin (A), a compound (B) containing an ethylenically unsaturated group, a photoinitiator (C) and an organic solvent (D). The photosensitive resin composition according to the present invention can improve the change rate of film thickness in thermal solvent and linearity of pattern with high finesse of the color filter.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an alkali-soluble resin and a photosensitive resin composition for a color filter in a liquid crystal display device, and a color filter and liquid crystal display device formed by the aforementioned photosensitive resin composition. More particularly, the invention provides an alkali-soluble resin and a photosensitive resin composition for a color filter having good change rate of film thickness in thermal solvent and linearity of pattern with high finesse.

2. Description of the Related Art

Because a liquid crystal display device has properties of lightweight, thin shape, low power consumption and so on, it is used in various applications such as a notebook, a personal digital assistance, a digital camera and a desktop computer screen. The aforementioned liquid crystal display device needs a color filter having high color reproduction range.

The color filter is obtained by forming three different colors, red (R), green (G) and blue (B), in strips or mosaics on a surface of a support such as a glass, a plastic sheet or the like with a black matrix (BM).

In variety manufacturing methods of the conventional color filter, a well-known method is to use a negative-type photosensitive color composition. The negative-type photosensitive color composition includes a pigment, an acrylic resin, a photopolymerization initiator, a reactive polymer or the like. Curing of the negative-type photosensitive color composition is carried out by the followings: first, producing a free radical by irradiation with ultraviolet light to decompose or activate the photopolymerization initiator, and carrying out a free radical polymerization of a free-radical activated ethylenically unsaturated compound. When the negative-type photosensitive color composition is used for manufacturing the color filter, the negative-type photosensitive color composition is usually coated on the substrate and developed after irradiated with ultraviolet rays via a mask to obtain a pattern. Then, the aforementioned pattern is heated to calcine for fixed adhesion on the substrate to form a pixel pattern. The process is repeated according to the necessary colors to obtain a pattern of color coating film. However, because of the process is repeated, the end of the pixels of BM and RGB will have greater segment deviation and the segment deviation will cause color displaying unevenly. In order to inhibit the segment deviation, a transparent resin layer (protective film) is used in this field to carry out a planarization treatment for the color filter.

The protective film must to have properties of protecting the RGB color layer, heat resistance for liquid crystal filling, hardness for pressure resistance and the like. At the same time, in order to meet the requirement of hardness, a photosensitive curing resin composition with high crosslinking density is developed (Japanese Patent Publication No. 05-78483). However, the photosensitive curing resin composition will shrink and generate residual stress, and it is easy to have a defect of poor linearity of pattern with high finesse.

Japanese Patent Publication No. 10-133372 discloses a protective film composition containing an epoxy compound. Although it can improve the problem of linearity of pattern with high finesse, it still has a defect of poor change rate of film thickness in thermal solvent.

In another aspect, in recent years, because the personal digital assistant and digital camera have tended to miniaturization and lightweight, the color filter needs further thinning and high color saturation; thus, it is necessary to increase the concentration of a colorant in the color composition. However, if the concentration of the colorant is raised, the resin amount of the photosensitive resin composition relatively becomes less. As the amount of the pixel surface resin contributing to adhesion of the protective film becoming less, the adhesion of pixel and the protective film reduces, and the protective film is easy to peel off from the interface with the pixel, and it further causes poor linearity of pattern with high finesse.

To improve the aforementioned problems, a polyfunctional photocuring monomer having polymerizable unsaturated bonds, an alkali-soluble resin and a photopolymerization initiator are used in the aforementioned photosensitive resin composition in the field. For example, Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 61-213213 and 01-152449 disclose uses of a color filter material. A copolymer polymerized by (meth) acrylic acid having a carboxyl group or by (meth) acrylate, maleic anhydride and other polymerizable monomers as an alkali-soluble resin is disclosed. However, the copolymer is a random copolymer, and it is difficult to obtain better linearity of pattern with high finesse and change rate of film thickness in thermal solvent under developing operation because distribution difference of alkali dissolving rate occurs in the light irradiated portion between the non-irradiated portion.

Therefore, improving the change rate of film thickness in thermal solvent and linearity of pattern with high finesse simultaneously in order to meet the modern requirements is a target remained to be achieved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the present invention, a specific alkali-soluble resin is provided to form a photosensitive resin composition for a color filter having good change rate of film thickness in thermal solvent and high linearity of pattern with high finesse.

Therefore, the present invention relates to an alkali-soluble resin (A) comprising a first alkali-soluble resin (A-1) obtained by reacting a first mixture, wherein the first mixture comprises an epoxy compound (a-1-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (1) and a compound (a-1-2) having at least one carboxylic acid group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group;

-   -   in Formula (1):     -   R¹, R² and R³ independently represent a branched or linear C₁-C₆         alkylene group or a branched or linear C₁-C₆ oxyalkylene group;     -   E¹, E² and E³ independently represent an epoxy-containing group         represented by Formula (2), an organic group represented by         Formula (3) or a hydrogen atom, wherein at least two of E¹, E²         and E³ represent the epoxy-containing group represented by         Formula (2); and

-   -   in Formulae (2) and (3), R⁴ represents a hydrogen atom or a         methyl group.

The present invention also provides a photosensitive resin composition for a color filter comprising:

-   -   an alkali-soluble resin (A);     -   a compound (B) containing an ethylenically unsaturated group;     -   a photoinitiator (C); and     -   an organic solvent (D);     -   wherein:     -   the alkali-soluble resin (A) comprising a first alkali-soluble         resin (A-1) obtained by reacting a first mixture, wherein the         first mixture comprises an epoxy compound (a-1-1) having at         least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (1) and a         compound (a-1-2) having at least one carboxylic acid group and         at least one ethylenically unsaturated group;

-   -   in Formula (1):     -   R¹, R² and R³ independently represent a branched or linear C₁-C₆         alkylene group or a branched or linear C₁-C₆ oxyalkylene group;     -   E¹, E² and E³ independently represent an epoxy-containing group         represented by Formula (2), an organic group represented by         Formula (3) or a hydrogen atom, wherein at least two of E¹, E²         and E³ represent the epoxy-containing group represented by         Formula (2); and

in Formulae (2) and (3), R⁴ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.

The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a color filter comprising forming a protective film with the photosensitive resin composition for the color filter as mentioned above.

The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a color filter comprising forming a pixel layer with the photosensitive resin composition for the color filter as mentioned above.

The present invention also provides a color filter manufactured by the method as mentioned above.

The present invention further provides a liquid crystal display device comprising the color filter as mentioned above.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an alkali-soluble resin (A) comprising a first alkali-soluble resin (A-1) obtained by reacting a first mixture, wherein the first mixture comprises an epoxy compound (a-1-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (1) and a compound (a-1-2) having at least one carboxylic acid group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group;

-   -   in Formula (1):     -   R¹, R² and R³ independently represent a branched or linear C₁-C₆         alkylene group or a branched or linear C₁-C₆ oxyalkylene group;     -   E¹, E² and E³ independently represent an epoxy-containing group         represented by Formula (2), an organic group represented by         Formula (3) or a hydrogen atom, wherein at least two of E¹, E²         and E³ represent the epoxy-containing group represented by         Formula (2); and

-   -   in Formulae (2) and (3), R⁴ represents a hydrogen atom or a         methyl group.

The alkali-soluble resin (A) comprises the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1) obtained by reacting the first mixture; wherein the first mixture comprises the epoxy compound (a-1-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (1) and the compound (a-1-2) having at least one carboxylic acid group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group. Besides, the first mixture may optionally comprises a carboxylic anhydride compound (a-1-3), a compound (a-1-4) having an epoxy group or combinations thereof.

-   -   in Formula (1):     -   R¹, R² and R³ independently represent a branched or linear C₁-C₆         alkylene group or a branched or linear C₁-C₆ oxyalkylene group;     -   E¹, E² and E³ independently represent an epoxy-containing group         represented by Formula (2), an organic group represented by         Formula (3) or a hydrogen atom, wherein at least two of E¹, E²         and E³ represent the epoxy-containing group represented by         Formula (2); and

-   -   in Formulae (2) and (3), R⁴ represents a hydrogen atom or a         methyl group.

Examples of the C₁-C₆ alkylene group include but are not limited to methylenyl, ethylenyl, n-propenyl, isopropenyl, cyclopropenyl, n-butenyl, isobutenyl, s-butenyl, t-butenyl, cyclobutenyl, 1-methyl-cyclopropenyl, 2-methyl-cyclopropenyl, n-pentenyl, 1-methyl-n-butenyl, 2-methyl-n-butenyl, 3-methyl-n-butenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-n-propenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-n-propenyl, 2,2-dimethyl-n-propenyl, 1-ethyl-n-propenyl, cyclopentenyl, 1-methyl-cyclobutenyl, 2-methyl-cyclobutenyl, 3-methyl-cyclobutenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-cyclopropenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-cyclopropenyl, 1-ethyl-cyclopropenyl, 2-ethyl-cyclopropenyl, n-hexenyl, 1-methyl-n-pentenyl, 2-methyl-n-pentenyl, 3-methyl-n-pentenyl, 4-methyl-n-pentenyl, 1,1-dimethyl-n-butenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-n-butenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-n-butenyl, 2,2-dimethyl-n-butenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-n-butenyl, 3,3-dimethyl-n-butenyl, 1-ethyl-n-butenyl, 2-ethyl-n-butenyl, 1,1,2-trimethyl-n-propenyl, 1,2,2-trimethyl-n-propenyl, 1-ethyl-1-methyl-n-propenyl, 1-ethyl-2-methyl-n-propenyl, cyclohexenyl, 1-methyl-cyclopentenyl, 2-methyl-cyclopentenyl, 3-methyl-cyclopentenyl, 1-ethyl-cyclobutenyl, 2-ethyl-cyclobutenyl, 3-ethyl-cyclobutenyl, 1,2-dimethyl-cyclobutenyl, 1,3-dimethyl-cyclobutenyl, 2,2-dimethyl-cyclobutenyl, 2,3-dimethyl-cyclobutenyl, 2,4-dimethyl-cyclobutenyl, 3,3-dimethyl-cyclobutenyl, 1-n-propyl-cyclopropenyl, 2-n-propyl-cyclopropenyl, 1-isopropyl-cyclopropenyl, 2-isopropyl-cyclopropenyl, 1,2,2-trimethyl-cyclopropenyl, 1,2,3-trimethyl-cyclopropenyl, 2,2,3-trimethyl-cyclopropenyl, 1-ethyl-2-methyl-cyclopropenyl, 2-ethyl-1-methyl-cyclopropenyl, 2-ethyl-2-methyl-cyclopropenyl, 2-ethyl-3-methyl-cyclopropenyl or the like. Preferably, the alkylene group is a C₁-C₃ alkylene group.

Examples of the C₁-C₆ oxyalkylene group include but are not limited to oxymethylenyl, oxyethylenyl, oxy-n-propenyl, oxyisopropenyl, oxycyclopropenyl, oxy-n-butenyl, oxyisobutenyl, oxy-s-butenyl, oxy-t-butenyl, oxycyclobutenyl, oxy-1-methyl-cyclopropenyl, oxy-2-methyl-cyclopropenyl, oxy-n-pentenyl, oxy-1-methyl-n-butenyl, oxy-2-methyl-n-butenyl, oxy-3-methyl-n-butenyl, oxy-1,1-dimethyl-n-propenyl, oxy-1,2-dimethyl-n-propenyl, oxy-2,2-dimethyl-n-propenyl, oxy-1-ethyl-n-propenyl, oxycyclopentenyl, oxy-1-methyl-cyclobutenyl, oxy-2-methyl-cyclobutenyl, oxy-3-methyl-cyclobutenyl, oxy-1,2-dimethyl-cyclopropenyl, oxy-2,3-dimethyl-cyclopropenyl, oxy-1-ethyl-cyclopropenyl, oxy-2-ethyl-cyclopropenyl, oxy-n-hexenyl, oxy-1-methyl-n-pentenyl, oxy-2-methyl-n-pentenyl, oxy-3-methyl-n-pentenyl, oxy-4-methyl-n-pentenyl, oxy-1,1-dimethyl-n-butenyl, oxy-1,2-dimethyl-n-butenyl, oxy-1,3-dimethyl-n-butenyl, oxy-2,2-dimethyl-n-butenyl, oxy-2,3-dimethyl-n-butenyl, oxy-3,3-dimethyl-n-butenyl, oxy-1-ethyl-n-butenyl, oxy-2-ethyl-n-butenyl, oxy-1,1,2-trimethyl-n-propenyl, oxy-1,2,2-trimethyl-n-propenyl, oxy-1-ethyl-1-methyl-n-propenyl, oxy-1-ethyl-2-methyl-n-propenyl, oxycyclohexenyl, oxy-1-methyl-cyclopentenyl, oxy-2-methyl-cyclopentenyl, oxy-3-methyl-cyclopentenyl, oxy-1-ethyl-cyclobutenyl, oxy-2-ethyl-cyclobutenyl, oxy-3-ethyl-cyclobutenyl, oxy-1,2-dimethyl-cyclobutenyl, oxy-1,3-dimethyl-cyclobutenyl, oxy-2,2-dimethyl-cyclobutenyl, oxy-2,3-dimethyl-cyclobutenyl, oxy-2,4-dimethyl-cyclobutenyl, oxy-3,3-dimethyl-cyclobutenyl, oxy-1-n-propyl-cyclopropenyl, oxy-2-n-propyl-cyclopropenyl, oxy-1-isopropyl-cyclopropenyl, oxy-2-isopropyl-cyclopropenyl, oxy-1,2,2-trimethyl-cyclopropenyl, oxy-1,2,3-trimethyl-cyclopropenyl, oxy-2,2,3-trimethyl-cyclopropenyl, oxy-1-ethyl-2-methyl-cyclopropenyl, oxy-2-ethyl-1-methyl-cyclopropenyl, oxy-2-ethyl-2-methyl-cyclopropenyl, oxy-2-ethyl-3-methyl-cyclopropenyl or the like. Preferably, the oxyalkylene group is oxyethylenyl or oxyisopropenyl.

Preferably, R¹, R² and R³ represent a C₁-C₃ alkylene group.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, examples of the epoxy compound (a-1-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (1) include but are not limited to monoallyldiglycidyl isocyanurate, 1-allyl-3,5-bis(2-methyl-epoxy propyl) isocyanurate, 1-(2-methyl-propenyl)-3,5-diglycidyl isocyanurate, 1-(2-methyl-propenyl)-3,5-bis(2-methyl-epoxy propyl) isocyanurate) or epoxy compounds represented by Formulae (1-1) to (1-13) shown below:

In one embodiment, the epoxy compound having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (1), for example, the compound represented by Formula (1-2), may be obtained by the process below:

In the above reaction, isocyanuric acid is converted to an isocyanuric acid Na salt using sodium hydroxide. This reaction may be carried out in water at 0 to 100° C. for 1 to 10 hours. Furthermore, the isocyanuric acid Na salt and a halogenated alkene undergo a reaction to yield an alkene-substituted isocyanuric acid. This reaction may be carried out, for example, in a DMF (dimethylformamide) solvent at 0 to 150° C. for 1 to 10 hours. In the Formula, X is a halogen atom, and a monobromoalkene or a monochioroalkene may be used as the halogenated alkene. The alkene-substituted isocyanuric acid may be oxidized with a peracid to yield an epoxy compound. Examples of the peracid are m-chloroperoxybenzoic acid, peracctic acid, hydrogen peroxide-tungstate or the like. This reaction may be carried out in a solvent such as methylene chloride and toluene at 0 to 110° C. for 1 to 10 hours. The compounds represented by Formulae (1-1), (1-3), (1-6) and (1-8) may also be synthesized by the same process.

In other embodiment of the invention, the epoxy compound (a-1-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (1), for example, the compound represented by Formula (1-4), may be obtained by the process below in the case of:

In the above reaction, a hydroxyalkyl isocyanurate and epihalohydrin undergo a reaction to yield tris(alkyleneoxy glycidyl)isocyantlrate. Examples of the hydroxyalkyl isocyanurate include hydroxyethyl isocyanurate or the like, and examples of the epihalohydrin include epichorohydrin, epibromohydrin, and the like. The reaction is carried out in a solvent such as dioxane using BF₃ or tin chloride as a catalyst at 0 to 100° C. for 1 to 10 hours. The compounds represented by Formulae (1-5), (1-9) and (1-10) can also be synthesized by the same process.

Methyl or alkenyl-substituted isocyantiric acids as precursors of the compounds represented by Formulae (1-11) to (1-13) are obtained as mixtures with trialkenyl-substituted isocyanuric acids by the reaction of isocyanuric acid with a halogenated alkene. This reaction can be carried out, for example, in the presence of potassium carbonate in N,N-dimethylimidazolidinone at 0 to 150° C. for 1 to 20 hours. Besides, potassium hydrogen carbonate, sodium carbonate and sodium hydrogen carbonate may be used as an inorganic base. The precursor is obtained by reacting a part of the methyl of the N,N-dimethylimidazolidinone with isocyanuric acid.

Then, the methyl or alkenyl-substituted isocyanuric acid may be oxidized with a peracid to yield an epoxy compound. M-chloroperoxybenzoic acid, peracetic acid, hydrogen peroxide-tungstate, or the like may be used as the peracid. This reaction may be carried out in a solvent such as methylene chloride and toluene at 0 to 110° C. for 1 to 20 hours.

Examples of the aforementioned the compound (a-1-2) having at least one carboxylic acid group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group may be selected from the group consisting of the following subgroups (1) to (3): (1) acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl butanedioic acid, 2-methacryloyloxybutyl butanedioic acid, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl hexanedioic acid, 2-methacryloyloxybutyl hexanedioic acid, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl hexahydrophthalic acid, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl maleic acid, 2-methacryloyloxypropyl maleic acid, 2-methacryloyloxybutyl maleic acid, 2-methacryloyloxypropyl butanedioic acid, 2-methacryloyloxypropyl hexanedioic acid, 2-methacryloyloxypropyl tetrahydrophthalic acid, 2-methacryloyloxypropyl phthalic acid, 2-methacryloyloxybutyl phthalic acid, or 2-methacryloyloxybutyl hydrophthalic acid; (2) a compound obtained by reacting (methyl) acrylate ester containing a hydroxyl group with a dicarboxylic acid compound, in which the dicarboxylic acid compound includes but is not limited to hexanedioic acid, butanedioic acid, maleic acid or phthalic acid; and (3) a hemiester compound obtained by reacting (methyl)acrylate ester containing a hydroxyl group with a carboxylic anhydride compound (a-1-3), in which the (methyl)acrylate ester containing a hydroxyl group includes but is not limited to (2-hydroxyethyl) acrylate, (2-hydroxyethyl) methacrylate, (2-hydroxypropyl) acrylate, (2-hydroxypropyl) methacrylate, (4-hydroxybutyl) acrylate, (4-hydroxybutyl) methacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate or the like.

Examples of the aforementioned carboxylic anhydride compound (a-1-3) may be selected from the group consisting of the following subgroups (1) to (2): (1) dicarboxylic anhydride compounds such as butanedioic anhydride, maleic anhydride, itaconic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, hexahydrophthalic anhydride, methyl tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, methyl hexahydrophthalic anhydride, methyl endo-methylene tetrahydrophthalic anhydride, chlorendic anhydride, glutaric anhydride, 1,2,4-benzenetricarboxylic anhydride and the like; and (2) tetracarboxylic dianhydride compounds such as 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride (referred to as BTDA), diphenyl tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride, diphenyl ether tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride, 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride, 3,3′,4,4′-oxy-diphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride and the like.

Examples of the aforementioned compound (a-1-4) having the epoxy group are glycidyl methacrylate, 3,4-epoxycyclohexyl methacrylate, a glycidyl ether compound having an unsaturated group, an unsaturated compound having an epoxy group or combinations thereof. Examples of the glycidyl ether compound having the unsaturated group include but are not limited to the commercially available products such as Denacol EX-111, Denacol EX-121, Denacol EX-141, Denacol EX-145, Denacol EX-146, Denacol EX-171, Denacol EX-192 manufactured by Nagase ChemteX Corporation or the like.

In one embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned first alkali-soluble resin (A-1) may be synthesized as follows. The epoxy compound (a-1-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (1) and the compound (a-1-2) having at least one carboxylic acid group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group are polymerized to form an intermediate product containing a hydroxyl group, and then the intermediate product reacts with the carboxylic acid anhydride compound (a-1-3), so as to obtain the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1). Based on the total amount of the hydroxyl groups of the intermediate product containing the hydroxyl group as 1 equivalent, the used amount of the carboxylic acid anhydride compound (a-1-3) is preferably from 0.4 to 1 equivalent, and more preferably 0.75 to 1 equivalent. When pluralities of the carboxylic acid anhydride compounds (a-1-3) are used in this reaction, they may be added sequentially or simultaneously in the reaction. Preferably, when the dicarboxylic acid anhydride compound and the tetracarboxylic acid anhydride compound are employed as the carboxylic acid anhydride compound (a-1-3), the molar ratio of dicarboxylic acid anhydride compound to the tetracarboxylic acid anhydride compound may be 1/99 to 90/10, and preferably 5/95 to 80/20. In addition, this reaction may be operated under a temperature of 50° C. to 130° C.

In other embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned first alkali-soluble resin (A-1) may be synthesized as follows. The epoxy compound (a-1-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (1) and the compound (a-1-2) having at least one carboxylic acid group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group are polymerized to form an intermediate product containing a hydroxyl group, and then the intermediate product reacts with the carboxylic acid anhydride compound (a-1-3), the compound (a-1-4) having the epoxy group or combinations thereof, so as to obtain the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1). Based on the total amount of the epoxy groups of the epoxy compound (a-1-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (1) as 1 equivalent, the used amount of the compound (a-1-2) having at least one carboxyl group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group is from 0.8 to 1.5 equivalent, and preferably 0.9 to 1.1 equivalent. Based on the total hydroxyl groups of the intermediate product containing the hydroxyl group as 100 percentage by mole, the used amount of the carboxylic acid anhydride compound (a-1-3) is from 10 to 100 mole %, preferably 20 to 100 mole %, and more preferably 30 to 100 mole %.

During the preparation of the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1), the reaction solution is usually added with an alkaline compound as a reaction catalyst for accelerating the reaction. Examples of the reaction catalyst include but are not limited to triphenyl phosphine, triphenyl stibine, triethylamine, triethanolamine, tetramethylammonium chloride, benzyltriethylammonium chloride or the like. The reaction catalyst may be used alone or in combinations of two or more.

Based on 100 parts by weight of the total used amount of the epoxy compound (a-1-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (1) and the compound (a-1-2) having at least one carboxyl group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group, the used amount of the reaction catalyst is from 0.01 to 10 parts by weight, and preferably 0.3 to 5 parts by weight.

In addition, for the purpose of controlling the polymerization degree, a polymerization inhibitor is usually added into the reaction solution. Examples of the aforementioned polymerization inhibitor include but are not limited to methoxyphenol, methylhydroquinone, hydroquinone, 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol, phenothiazine or the like. The polymerization inhibitor may be used alone or in combinations of two or more.

Based on 100 parts by weight of the total used amount of the epoxy compound (a-1-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (1) and the compound (a-1-2) having at least one carboxyl group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group, the used amount of the polymerization inhibitor is from 0.01 to 10 parts by weight, and preferably 0.1 to 5 parts by weight.

During the preparation of the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1), a polymerization solvent may be used if necessary. Examples of the polymerization solvent include but are not limited to alcohol compounds such as ethanol, propanol, isopropanol, butanol, isobutanol, 2-butanol, hexanol or ethylene glycol; ketone compounds such as methyl ethyl ketone or cyclohexanone; aromatic hydrocarbon compounds such as toluene or xylene; cellosolve compounds such as cellosolve or butyl cellosolve; carbitol compounds such as carbitol or butyl carbitol; propylene glycol alkyl ether compounds such as propylene glycol monomethyl ether; poly(propylene glycol) alkyl ether compounds such as di(propylene glycol) methyl ether, acetate ester compounds such as ethyl acetate, butyl acetate, ethylene glycol monoethyl ether acetate, propylene glycol methyl ether acetate and the like; alkyl lactate compounds such as ethyl lactate or butyl lactate; or dialkyl glycol ethers. The aforementioned polymerization solvent may be used alone or in combinations of two or more. Besides, an acid equivalent of the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1) is preferably 50 mg KOH/g to 200 mg KOH/g, and more preferably 60 mg KOH/g to 150 mg KOH/g.

In the present invention, the number average molecular weight of the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1) is from 500 to 5000, preferably from 600 to 4800, and more preferably from 700 to 4600.

The present invention also provides a photosensitive resin composition for a color filter comprising:

-   -   an alkali-soluble resin (A);     -   a compound (B) containing an ethylenically unsaturated group;     -   a photoinitiator (C); and     -   an organic solvent (D);     -   wherein:     -   the alkali-soluble resin (A) comprising a first alkali-soluble         resin (A-1) obtained by reacting a first mixture, wherein the         first mixture comprises an epoxy compound (a-1-1) having at         least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (1) and a         compound (a-1-2) having at least one carboxylic acid group and         at least one ethylenically unsaturated group;

-   -   in Formula (1):     -   R¹, R² and R³ independently represent a branched or linear C₁-C₆         alkylene group or a branched or linear C₁-C₆ oxyalkylene group;     -   E¹, E² and E³ independently represent an epoxy-containing group         represented by Formula (2), an organic group represented by         Formula (3) or a hydrogen atom, wherein at least two of E¹, E²         and E³ represent the epoxy-containing group represented by         Formula (2); and

-   -   in Formulae (2) and (3), R⁴ represents a hydrogen atom or a         methyl group.

The alkali-soluble resin (A) according to the invention comprises the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1) and may further comprise a second alkali-soluble resin (A-2). Besides, the alkali-soluble resin (A) may further comprise a third alkali-soluble resin (A-3).

The first alkali-soluble resin (A-1) is the same to the aforementioned definition and is not repeated again.

Based on 100 parts by weight of the used amount of the alkali-soluble resin (A), the used amount of the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1) is from 10 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight, preferably from 15 parts by weight to 90 parts by weight, and more preferably from 20 parts by weight to 80 parts by weight. If the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1) is absent in the alkali-soluble resin (A), the photosensitive resin composition for the color filter has poor linearity of pattern with high finesse.

The alkali-soluble resin (A) comprises the second alkali-soluble resin (A-2) obtained by reacting a second mixture, and the second mixture comprises an epoxy compound (a-2-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (4) or (5) and a compound (a-2-2) having at least one carboxylic acid group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group. Besides, the second mixture may optionally comprise a carboxylic anhydride compound (a-2-3), a compound (a-2-4) having an epoxy group or combinations thereof.

The epoxy compound (a-2-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (4) or (5) comprises a compound represented by Formula (4), a compound represented by Formula (5) or combinations thereof.

In one embodiment of the invention, the compound represented by Formula (4) is shown below:

-   -   in Formula (4), R⁶¹, R⁶², R⁶³ and R⁶⁴ are the same or different,         and independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a         C₁-C₅ alkyl group, a C₁-C₅ alkoxy group, a C₆-C₁₂ aryl group or         a C₆-C₁₂ aralkyl group.

The aforementioned compound represented by Formula (4) is obtained by reacting a bisphenol fluorene and an epihalohydrin.

Examples of the aforementioned bisphenol fluorene include but are not limited to 9,9-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)fluorene, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methylphenyl)fluorene, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxy-3-chlorophenyl)fluorene, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxy-3-bromophenyl)fluorene, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxy-3-fluorophenyl)fluorene, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)fluorene, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dimethylphenyl)fluorene, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dichlorophenyl)fluorene, 9,9-bis(4-hydroxy-3,5-dibromophenyl)fluorene or the like, or combinations thereof.

Examples of the aforementioned epihalohydrin include but are not limited to 3-chloro-1,2-epichlorohydrin, 3-bromo-1,2-epibromohydrin or the like, or combinations thereof.

The compound represented by Formula (4) is bisphenol fluorene containing the epoxy group. Examples of the aforementioned compound include but are not limited to: (1) ESF-300 or the like manufactured by Nippon Steel Chemical Co., Ltd; (2) PG-100, EG-210 or the like manufactured by Osaka Gas Co., Ltd; (3) SMS-F9PhPG, SMS-F9CrG, SMS-F914PG or the like manufactured by S.M.S Technology Co., Ltd.

In other embodiment of the invention, the compound represented by Formula (5) is shown below:

in Formula (5), R⁶⁵ to R⁷⁸ are the same or different, and independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C₁-C₈ alkyl group, or a C₆-C₁₅ aromatic group; and n represents an integer from 0 to 10.

The aforementioned compound represented by Formula (5) is obtained by reacting a compound represented by Formula (5-1) as below and an epihalohydrin in the presence of an alkali metal hydroxide:

-   -   in Formula (5-1), R⁶⁵ to R⁷⁸ and n are the same to the         definition with Formula (5), and are not repeated again.

The aforementioned compound represented by Formula (5) is obtained by condensing a compound represented by Formula (5-2) and phenol in the presence of an acid catalyst, thereby forming the compound represented by Formula (5-1). Next, a dehydrohalogenation is carried out by adding excess of an epihalohydrin into the above reaction solution, so as to obtain the compound represented by Formula (5).

In Formula (5-2), R⁶⁷ and R⁷⁰ are the same to the definition with Formula (5), and are not repeated again; X¹ and X² independently represent a halogen atom, a C₁-C₆ alkyl group or a C₁-C₆ alkoxy group. Preferably, the halogen atom may be chlorine or bromine; the alkyl group may be a methyl, ethyl or tert-butyl group; and the alkoxy group may be a methoxy or ethoxy group.

Examples of the aforementioned phenol include but are not limited to phenol, cresol, ethylphenol, n-propylphenol, isobutylphenol, t-butylphenol, octylphenol, nonylphenol, xylenol, methylbutylphenol, di-t-butylphenol, vinylphenol, propenylphenol, ethinylphenol, cyclopentylphenol, cyclohexylphenol, cyclohexylcresol or the like. The aforementioned phenols may be used alone or in admixture of two or more thereof.

Based on 1 mole of the used amount of the aforementioned compound represented by Formula (5-2), the used amount of the phenol is 0.5 to 20 moles; preferably the used amount of the phenol is 2 to 15 moles.

Examples of the aforementioned acid catalyst include but are not limited to hydrogen chloride, sulfuric acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, oxalic acid, boron trifluoride, aluminium chloride anhydrous, zinc chloride or the like; wherein p-toluenesulfonic acid, hydrogen chloride and sulfuric acid are preferably used. The aforementioned acid catalyst may be used alone or in admixture of two or more thereof.

In addition, there are no specific limitations to the used amount of the aforementioned acid catalyst. Preferably, based on 100 percentages by weight of the compound represented by Formula (5-2), the used amount of the acid catalyst is 0.1 percentages by weight to 30 percentages by weight.

The aforementioned condensation reaction may be performed without any solvent or in the presence of an organic solvent. Examples of the aforementioned organic solvent are toluene, xylene, methyl isobutyl ketone or the like. The aforementioned organic solvent may be used alone or in admixture of two or more thereof.

Based on 100 percentages by weight of the total used amount of the compound represented by Formula (5-2) and the phenol, the used amount of the organic solvent is 50 percentages by weight to 300 percentages by weight; preferably 100 percentages by weight to 250 percentages by weight. In addition, the aforementioned condensation reaction is operated under a temperature of 40° C. to 180° C. for a period of 1 hour to 8 hours.

After the condensation reaction is completed, a neutralization or rinse treatment may be performed. In the aforementioned neutralization treatment, pH value of the reaction solution is adjusted to pH 3 to pH 7, and preferably pH 5 to pH 7. A neutralization reagent may be used in the aforementioned rinse treatment, in which the neutralization reagent is an alkaline substance, for examples, alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide or the like; alkaline earth metal hydroxides such as calcium hydroxide, magnesium hydroxide or the like; organic amines such as diethylene triamine, triethylenetetramine, aniline, phenylene diamine or the like; and ammonia, sodium dihydrogen phosphate or combinations thereof. The neutralization reagent may be used alone or in combinations. Conventional manners may be used in the aforementioned rinse treatment. For example, a neutralizing reagent-containing solution is added into the reaction solution followed by repetitively extracting. After the neutralization or rinse treatment is finished, unreactive phenols and solvents in the product are evaporated and removed by using a heating treatment under a decreased pressure, and then concentrated, thereby obtaining the compound represented by Formula (5-1).

Examples of the aforementioned epihalohydrin include but are not limited to 3-chloro-1,2-epichlorohydrin, 3-bromo-1,2-epibromohydrin or combinations thereof. Before preceding the aforementioned dehydrohalogenation, alkali metal hydroxides such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide may be added before or during the reaction process. The aforementioned dehydrohalogenation is carried out under a temperature of 20° C. to 120° C. for a period of 1 hour to 10 hours.

In one embodiment, the formulation of the alkali metal hydroxide may be also used in an aqueous solution for adding into the aforementioned dehydrohalogenation reaction system. In the embodiment, when the solution of the alkali metal hydroxides is continuously added into the dehydrohalogenation reaction system, water and the epihalohydrin can be simultaneously distillated out under a normal or decreased pressure, thereby separating and removing water, as well as reflowing the epihalohydrin back into the reaction system continuously.

Before the aforementioned dehydrohalogenation is carried out, a tertiary ammonium salt such as tetramethyl ammonium chloride, tetramethyl ammonium bromide, trimethyl benzyl ammonium chloride or the like may be used as a catalyst and added into the dehydrohalogenation reaction system, followed by performing the dehydrohalogenation under a temperature of 50° C. to 150° C. for a period of 1 hour to 5 hours. Next, the alkali metal hydroxide or its solution may be then added into such reaction system under a temperature of 20° C. to 120° C. for a period of 1 hour to 10 hours for carrying out the dehydrohalogenation.

Based on the total hydroxyl groups in the compound represented by Formula (5-1) as 1 equivalent, the used amount of the epihalohydrin is 1 equivalent to 20 equivalents; preferably 2 equivalents to 10 equivalents. Based on the total hydroxyl groups in the compound represented by Formula (5-1) as 1 equivalent, the used amount of the alkali metal hydroxide added in the dehydrohalogenation is 0.8 equivalents to 15 equivalents; preferably 0.9 equivalents to 11 equivalents.

In addition, for the purpose of success of the dehydrohalogenation, an alcohol such as methanol or ethanol, a polar aprotic solvent such as dimethyl sulfone, dimethyl sulfoxide or the like may be also added. When the alcohol is used in the reaction, based on 100 percentages by weight of the used amount of the epihalohydrin, the used amount of the alcohol is 2 percentages by weight to 20 percentages by weight; preferably 4 percentages by weight to 15 percentages by weight. When the polar aprotic solvent is used in the reaction, based on 100 percentages by weight of the used amount of the epihalohydrin, the used amount of the polar aprotic solvent is 5 percentages by weight to 100 percentages by weight; preferably 10 percentages by weight to 90 percentages by weight.

After the dehydrohalogenation is completed, a rinse treatment is optionally performed. Afterward, the epihalohydrin, the alcohol and the polar aprotic solvent can be removed by using a heating treatment of 110° C. to 250° C. under a decreased pressure of less than 1.3 kPa (10 mmHg).

For preventing the resulted epoxy resin from remaining hydrolytic halogen therein, toluene, methyl isobutyl ketone or the like may be added into the solution that has reacted after the dehydrohalogenation, and then the solution of the alkali metal hydroxide such as sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide may be added to perform the dehydrohalogenation again. During the dehydrohalogenation, based on the total hydroxyl groups in the compound represented in Formula (5-1) as 1 equivalent, the used amount of the alkali metal hydroxide added in the dehydrohalogenation is 0.01 moles to 0.3 moles; preferably 0.05 moles to 0.2 moles. In addition, the dehydrohalogenation is operated in a temperature of 50° C. to 120° C. for a period of 0.5 hours to 2 hours.

After the dehydrohalogenation is completed, salts can be removed by using processes of filtration, rinse and so on. In addition, toluene, methyl isobutyl ketone and the like can be distilled out and removed, thereby obtaining the compound represented by Formula (5). Examples of the compound represented by Formula (5) include but are not limited to the commercially available products such as NC-3000, NC-3000H, NC-3000S, NC-3000P or so on manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co., Ltd.

The compound (a-2-2) having at least one carboxylic acid group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group is the same to the compound (a-1-2) having at least one carboxylic acid group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group used in the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1), and is not repeated again.

The carboxylic anhydride compound (a-2-3) is the same to the carboxylic anhydride compound (a-1-3) used in the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1), and is not repeated again.

The compound (a-2-4) having the epoxy group is the same to the compound (a-1-4) having the epoxy group used in the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1), and is not repeated again.

In one embodiment of the invention, the epoxy compound (a-2-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (4) and Formula (5) and the compound (a-2-2) having at least one carboxylic acid group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group are polymerized to form an intermediate product containing a hydroxyl group; and then the intermediate product reacts with the carboxylic acid anhydride compound (a-2-3), so as to obtain the second alkali-soluble resin (A-2). Based on the total amount of the hydroxyl groups of the intermediate product containing the hydroxyl group as 1 equivalent, the used amount of the carboxylic acid anhydride compound (a-2-3) is preferably from 0.4 to 1 equivalent, and more preferably 0.75 to 1 equivalent. When pluralities of the carboxylic acid anhydride compounds (a-2-3) are used in this reaction, they may be added sequentially or simultaneously in the reaction. Preferably, when the dicarboxylic acid anhydride compound and the tetracarboxylic acid anhydride compound are employed as the carboxylic acid anhydride compound (a-2-3), the molar ratio of dicarboxylic acid anhydride compound to the tetracarboxylic acid anhydride compound may be 1/99 to 90/10, and preferably 5/95 to 80/20. In addition, this reaction may be operated under a temperature of 50° C. to 130° C.

In other embodiment of the invention, the aforementioned second alkali-soluble resin (A-2) may be synthesized as follows. The epoxy compound (a-2-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (4) and Formula (5) and the compound (a-2-2) having at least one carboxyl group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group are polymerized to form an intermediate product containing a hydroxyl group; and then the intermediate product reacts with the carboxylic acid anhydride compound (a-2-3), the compound (a-2-4) containing the epoxy group or any combinations thereof, so as to obtain the second alkali-soluble resin (A-2). Based on the total amount of the epoxy groups of the epoxy compound containing at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (4) or Formula (5) as 1 equivalent, the used amount of the compound (a-2-2) having at least one carboxyl group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group is from 0.8 to 1.5 equivalent, and preferably 0.9 to 1.1 equivalent. Based on the total hydroxyl groups of the intermediate product containing the hydroxyl group as 100 percentage by mole (mole %), the used amount of the carboxylic acid anhydride compound (a-2-3) is from 10 to 100 mole %, preferably 20 to 100 mole %, and more preferably 30 to 100 mole %.

During the preparation of the second alkali-soluble resin (A-2), the reaction solution is usually added with an alkaline compound as a reaction catalyst for accelerating the reaction. The reaction catalyst is the same to the reaction catalyst used in the aforementioned first alkali-soluble resin (A-1), and is not repeated.

Based on 100 parts by weight of the total used amount of the epoxy compound (a-2-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (4) or Formula (5) and the compound (a-2-2) having at least one carboxyl group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group, the used amount of the reaction catalyst is from 0.01 to 10 parts by weight, and preferably 0.3 to 5 parts by weight.

In addition, for the purpose of controlling the polymerization degree, a polymerization inhibitor is usually added into the reaction solution. The polymerization inhibitor is the same to the polymerization inhibitor used in the aforementioned first alkali-soluble resin (A-1), and is not repeated.

Based on 100 parts by weight of the total used amount of the epoxy compound (a-2-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (4) or Formula (5) and the compound (a-2-2) having at least one carboxyl group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group, the used amount of the polymerization inhibitor is from 0.01 to 10 parts by weight, and preferably 0.1 to 5 parts by weight.

During the preparation of the second alkali-soluble resin (A-2), a polymerization solvent may be used if necessary. The polymerization solvent is the same to the polymerization solvent used in the aforementioned first alkali-soluble resin (A-1), and is not repeated.

Besides, an acid equivalent of the second alkali-soluble resin (A-2) is 50 mg KOH/g to 200 mg KOH/g, and preferably 60 mg KOH/g to 150 mg KOH/g.

Based on 100 parts by weight of the used amount of the alkali-soluble resin (A), the used amount of the second alkali-soluble resin (A-2) is from 0 parts by weight to 75 parts by weight, preferably from 5 parts by weight to 60 parts by weight, and more preferably from 10 parts by weight to 50 parts by weight. If the alkali-soluble resin (A) comprises the second alkali-soluble resin (A-2), the photosensitive resin composition has better change rate of film thickness in thermal solvent.

The third alkali-soluble resin (A-3) is obtained by reacting a third mixture, and the third mixture comprises an ethylenically unsaturated monomer (a-3-1) having at least one carboxylic acid group and an other copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer (a-3-2), and the used amount of the ethylenically unsaturated monomer (a-3-1) having at least one carboxylic acid group and the other copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer (a-3-2) is 100 parts by weight.

Examples of the ethylenically unsaturated monomer (a-3-1) having at least one carboxylic acid group include but are not limited to an unsaturated monocarboxylic compound such as acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, butenic acid, α-chloro acrylic acid, ethyl acrylic acid, benzalacetic acid, 2-acryloyloxyethylsuccinate monoester, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl succinate monoester or the like; an unsaturated dicarboxylic acid (anhydride) compound such as maleic acid, maleic anhydride, fumaric acid, itaconic acid, itaconic anhydride, citraconic acid, citraconic anhydride or the like; and an unsaturated polycarboxylic acid (anhydride) compound having more than three carboxyl groups. The aforementioned ethylenically unsaturated monomer (a-3-1) having at least one carboxylic acid group may be used alone or in combinations of two or more.

Preferably, the aforementioned ethylenically unsaturated monomer (a-3-1) having at least one carboxylic acid group is acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, 2-acryloyloxyethylsuccinate monoester, 2-methacryloyloxyethyl succinate monoester or the like.

Examples of the other copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer (a-3-2) include but are not limited to dicyclopentyl acrylate, dicyclopentyloxyethyl acrylate, dicyclopentenyl acrylate (FA-511A), dicyclopentenyloxyethyl acrylate (FA-512A), dicyclopentyl methacrylate, dicyclopentyloxyethyl methacrylate, dicyclopentenyl methacrylate, dicyclopentenyloxyethyl methacrylate, aromatic ethylenically compounds such as styrene, α-methylstyrene, vinyl toluene, p-chlorostyrene, methoxystyrene or the like; maleimide compounds such as N-phenylmaleimide, N-o-hydroxyphenylmaleimide, N-m-hydroxyphenylmaleimide, N-p-hydroxyphenylmaleimide, N-o-methylphenylmaleimide, N-m-methylphenylmaleimide, N-p-methylphenylmaleimide, N-o-methoxyphenylmaleimide, N-m-methoxyphenylmaleimide, N-p-methoxyphenylmaleimide, N-cyclohexylmaleimide or the like; unsaturated carboxylic acid ester compounds such as methyl acrylate, methyl methacrylate, benzyl methacrylate, ethyl acrylate, ethyl methacrylate, n-propyl acrylate, n-propyl methacrylate, isopropyl acrylate, isopropyl methacrylate, n-butyl acrylate, n-butyl methacrylate, isobutyl acrylate, isobutyl methacrylate, sec-butyl acrylate, sec-butyl methacrylate, tert-butyl acrylate, tert-butyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, 3-hydroxypropyl acrylate, 3-hydroxypropyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxybutyl acrylate, 2-hydroxybutyl methacrylate, 3-hydroxybutyl acrylate, 3-hydroxybutyl methacrylate, 4-hydroxybutyl acrylate, 4-hydroxybutyl methacrylate, propylene acrylate, propylene methacrylate, benzyl acrylate, phenyl acrylate, phenyl methacrylate, methoxy triethylene glycol acrylate, methoxy triethylene glycol methacrylate, lauryl methacrylate, tetradecyl methacrylate, cetyl methacrylate, octadecyl methacrylate, eicosyl methacrylate, docosanyl methacrylate or the like; N,N-dimethyl amino ethyl acrylate, N,N-dimethyl amino ethyl methacrylate, N,N-diethyl amino propyl acrylate, N,N-dimethyl amino propyl methacrylate, N,N-dibutyl amino propyl acrylate or N-isobutyl amino ethyl methacrylate; unsaturated carboxylic epoxypropyl ester compounds such as epoxypropyl acrylate, epoxypropyl methacrylate or the like; vinyl carboxylate compounds such as vinyl acetate, vinyl pivalate, vinyl butanoate or the like; unsaturated ether compounds such as methoxyethene, ethoxyethene, allyl epoxypropyl ether, methallyl epoxypropyl ether or the like; vinyl nitrile compounds such as acrylonitrile, methacrylonitrile, α-chloro acrylonitrile, vinylidene cyanide or the like; unsaturated amide compounds such as acrylamide, methacrylamide, α-chloro acrylamide, N-hydroxyethyl acrylamide, N-hydroxyethyl methacrylamide or the like; and aliphatic conjugated diene compounds such as 1,3-butadiene, isoprene, chlorinated butadiene or the like. The aforementioned other copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer (a-3-2) may be used alone or in combinations of two or more.

Preferably, the other copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer (a-3-2) is selected from dicyclopentyl acrylate, dicyclopentyloxyethyl acrylate, dicyclopentenyl acrylate, dicyclopentenyloxyethyl acrylate, dicyclopentyl methacrylate, dicyclopentyloxyethyl methacrylate, dicyclopentenyl methacrylate, dicyclopentenyloxyethyl methacrylate, styrene, N-phenylmaleimide, methacrylate, methyl methacrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate, benzyl acrylate, benzyl methacrylate or in combinations thereof.

During the preparation of the third alkali-soluble resin (A-3), examples of solvent include but are not limited to (poly)alkylene glycol monoalkylether, such as ethylene glycol monomethylether, ethylene glycol monoethylether, diethylene glycol monomethylether, diethylene glycol monoethylether, diethylene glycol n-propylether, diethylene glycol n-butylether, triethylene glycol monomethylether, triethylene glycol monoethylether, propylene glycol monomethylether, propylene glycol monoethylether, dipropylene glycol monomethylether, dipropylene glycol monoethylether, dipropylene glycol n-propylether, dipropylene glycol n-butylether, tripropylene glycol monomethyl ether, tripropylene glycol monoethyl ether or the like; (poly)alkylene glycol monoalkylether acetate such as ethylene glycol monomethylether acetate, ethylene glycol monoethylether acetate, propylene glycol monomethylether acetate, propylene glycol monoethylether acetate or the like; ether such as diethylene glycol dimethyl ether, diethylene glycol ethyl methyl ether, diethylene glycol diethyl ether, tetrahydrofuran or the like; ketone such as methyl ethyl ketone, cyclohexanone, 2-heptanone, 3-heptanone or the like; lactic alkyoxycarbonyl such as methyl 2-hydroxypropanoate, ethyl 2-hydroxypropanoate or the like; ester such as methyl 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionate, ethyl 2-hydroxy-2-methylpropionate, methyl 3-methoxypropionate, ethyl 3-methoxypropionate, methyl 3-ethoxypropionate, ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate, ethoxy ethyl acetate, hydroxy ethyl acetate, methyl 2-hydroxy-3-methylbutyrate, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutyl acetate, 3-methyl-3-methoxybutyl acrylic acid, ethyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, n-propyl acetate, isopropyl acetate, isobutyl acetate, n-pentyl acetate, isopentyl acetate, n-butyl propionate, ethyl butyrate, n-propyl butyrate, isopropyl butyrate, n-butyl butyrate, methyl pyruvate, ethyl pyruvate, n-propyl pyruvate, methyl acetoacetate, ethyl acetoacetate, 2-oxide-butyric acid ethyl ester or the like; aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene, xylene or the like; carboxylic acid amide such as N-methyl-pyrrolidinone, N,N-dimethyl formamide, N,N-dimethyl acetamide or the like. The aforementioned solvent may generally be used alone or in combinations of two or more.

Preferably, the aforementioned solvent of the preparation of the third alkali-soluble resin (A-3) is propylene glycol monomethylether acetate, ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate or combinations thereof.

During the preparation of the third alkali-soluble resin (A-3), an initiator may be a free radical initiator. Examples of the free radical initiator include but are not limited to azo compound such as 2,2′-azobisisobutyronitrile, 2,2′-azobis-(2,4-dimethylvaleronitrile), 2,2′-azobis-(4-methoxy-2,4-dimethyl valeronitrile), 2,2′-azobis-2-methyl butyronitrile or the like; peroxide such as benzoylperoxide or combinations thereof.

Based on 100 parts by weight of the used amount of the alkali-soluble resin (A), the used amount of the third alkali-soluble resin (A-3) is from 0 part by weight to 50 parts by weight, preferably from 5 parts by weight to 40 parts by weight, and more preferably from 10 parts by weight to 30 parts by weight. If the alkali-soluble resin (A) comprises the third alkali-soluble resin (A-3), the photosensitive resin composition has better change rate of film thickness in thermal solvent.

When the alkali-soluble resin (A) comprises the second alkali-soluble resin (A-2) and the third alkali-soluble resin (A-3) simultaneously, the photosensitive resin composition has better change rate of film thickness in thermal solvent.

The compound (B) containing the ethylenically unsaturated group according to the invention is selected from a compound having one ethylenically unsaturated group or a compound having two or more than two ethylenically unsaturated groups.

Examples of the compound containing one ethylenically unsaturated group include but are not limited to, (meth)acrylamide, (meth) acryloylmorpholine, 7-amino-3,7-dimethyloctyl (meth)acrylate, iso-butoxymethyl (meth)acrylamide, iso-bornyloxyethyl (meth)acrylate, iso-bornyl (meth)acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl (meth)acrylate, ethyl diethylene glycol (meth)acrylate, t-octyl (meth)acrylamide, diacetone (meth)acrylamide, dimethylaminoethyl (meth)acrylate, dodecyl (meth)acrylate, dicyclopentenyloxyethyl (meth)acrylate, dicyclopentenyl (meth)acrylate, N,N-dimethyl (meth)acrylamide, tetrachlorophenyl (meth)acrylate, 2-tetrachlorophenoxy ethyl (meth)acrylate, tetrahydrofurfuryl (meth)acrylate, tetrabromophenyl (meth)acrylate, 2-tetrabromophenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-trichlorophenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, tribromophenyl (meth)acrylate, 2-tribromophenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxyethyl (meth)acrylate, 2-hydroxypropyl (meth)acrylate, vinylcaprolactam, N-vinylpyrrolidone, phenoxyethyl (meth)acrylate, pentachlorophenyl (meth)acrylate, pentabromophenyl (meth)acrylate, polyethylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate, polypropylene glycol mono(meth)acrylate, bornyl (meth)acrylate, or the like. The aforementioned the compound having one ethylenically unsaturated group may be used alone or in combinations of two or more.

Examples of the compound containing two or more ethylenically unsaturated groups include but are not limited to ethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, dicyclopentenyl di(meth)acrylate, triethylene glycol diacrylate, tetraethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, tri(2-hydroxyethyl) isocyanate di(meth)acrylate, tri(2-hydroxyethyl) isocyanate tri(meth)acrylate, caprolactone-modified tri(2-hydroxyethyl) isocyanate tri(meth)acrylate, trimethylolpropyl tri(meth)acrylate, ethylene oxide (hereinafter abbreviated as EO) modified trimethylolpropyl tri(meth)acrylate, propylene oxide (hereinafter abbreviated as PO) modified trimethylolpropyl tri(meth)acrylate, tripropylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, neo-pentyl glycol di(meth)acrylate, 1,4-butanediol di(meth)acrylate, 1,6-hexanediol di(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol tri(meth)acrylate, pentaerythritol tetra(meth)acrylate, polyester di(meth)acrylate, polyethylene glycol di(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol hexa(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol penta(meth)acrylate, dipentaerythritol tetra(meth)acrylate, caprolactone-modified dipentaerythritol hexa(meth)acrylate, caprolactone-modified dipentaerythritol penta(meth)acrylate, ditrimethylolpropyl tetra(meth)acrylate, EO-modified bisphenol A di(meth)acrylate, PO-modified bisphenol A di(meth)acrylate, EO-modified hydrogenated bisphenol A di(meth)acrylate, PO-modified hydrogenated bisphenol A di(meth)acrylate, PO-modified glycerol triacrylate, EO-modified bisphenol F di(meth)acrylate, phenol novolac polyglycidyl ether (meth)acrylate, or the like. The aforementioned the compound having two or more ethylenically unsaturated groups may be used alone or in combinations of two or more.

Examples of the compound (B) containing the ethylenically unsaturated group include but are not limited to trimethylolpropyl triacrylate, EO-modified trimethylolpropyl triacrylate, PO-modified trimethylolpropyl triacrylate, pentaerythritol triacrylate, pentaerythritol tetraacrylate, dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate, dipentaerythritol tetraacrylate, caprolactone-modified dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, ditrimethylolpropyl tetraacrylate, PO-modified glycerol triacrylate or combinations thereof.

The compound (B) containing the ethylenically unsaturated group preferably is dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate, trimethylolpropyl triacrylate, ditrimethylolpropyl tetraacrylate or combinations thereof.

Based on 100 parts by weight of the used amount of the alkali-soluble resin (A), the used amount of the compound (B) containing the ethylenically unsaturated group is from 40 parts by weight to 400 parts by weight, preferably from 60 parts by weight to 300 parts by weight, and more preferably from 80 parts by weight to 200 parts by weight.

The photoinitiator (C) according to the invention may be a free radical photoinitiator, and examples of the photoinitiator (C) include but are not limited to an O-acyloxime compound, a triazine compound, an acetophenone compound, a biimidazole compound, a benzophenone compound or the like.

Examples of the O-acyloxime compound are 1-[4-(phenylthio)phenyl]-heptane-1,2-dione 2-(O-benzoyloxime), 1-[4-(phenylthio)phenyl]-octane-1,2-dione 2-(O-benzoyloxime), 1-[4-(benzoyl)phenyl]-heptane-1,2-dione 2-(O-benzoyloxime), 1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methylbenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-ethylketo-1-(O-acetyloxime), 1-[9-ethyl-6-(3-methylbenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-ethylketo-1-(O-acetyloxime), 1-[9-ethyl-6-benzoyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-ethylketo-1-(O-acetyl oxime), ethylketo-1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methyl-4-(tetrahydrofuran)benzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethylketo-1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methyl-5-(tetrahydro pyranyl)benzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethylketo-1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methyl-4-(tetrahydrofuran)methoxybenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethylketo-1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methyl-5-(tetrahydrofuran)methoxy benzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethylketo-1-[9-ethyl-6-{2-methyl-4-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan)benzoyl}-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethylketo-1-[9-ethyl-6-{2-methyl-4-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolan)methoxybenzoyl}-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime) or combinations thereof.

Examples of the triazine compound include but are not limited to a 2,4-bis(trichloromethyl)-6-(p-methoxy)styryl-s-triazine, 2,4-bis(trichloromethyl)-6-(1-p-dimethylaminophenyl-1,3-butadienyl)-s-triazine, 2-trichloromethyl-4-amino-6-(p-methoxy)styryl-s-triazine] or combinations thereof.

Examples of the acetophenone compound include but are not limited to p-dimethylaminoacetophenone, α,α′-dimethoxyazoxyacetophenone, 2,2′-dimethyl-2-phenylacetophenone, p-methoxyacetophenone, 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-morpholino-1-propanone, or 2-benzyl-2-N,N-dimethylamino-1-(4-morpholinophenyl)-1-butanone or combinations thereof.

Examples of the biimidazole compound include but are not limited to 2,2′-bis(o-chlorophenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenylbiimidazole, 2,2′-bis(o-fluorophenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenylbiimidazole, 2,2′-bis(o-methylphenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenylbiimidazole, 2,2′-bis(o-methoxyphenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenylbiimidazole, 2,2′-bis(o-ethylphenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenylbiimidazole, 2,2′-bis(p-methoxyphenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenylbiimidazole, 2,2′-bis(2,2′,4,4′-tetramethoxyphenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenylbiimidazole, 2,2′-bis(2-chlorophenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenylbiimidazole, or 2,2′-bis(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetra phenylbiimidazole or combinations thereof.

Examples of the benzophenone compound include but are not limited to thioxanthone, 2,4-diethylthioxanthone, thioxanthone-4-sulfone, benzophenone, 4,4′-bis(dimethylamino)benzophenone, 4,4′-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone or combinations thereof.

Preferably, the photoinitiator (C) is 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthio phenyl)-2-morpholino-1-propanone, 1-[4-(phenylthio)phenyl]-octane-1,2-dione 2-(O-benzoyloxime), 1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methylbenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-ethyl keto-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethylketo-1-[9-ethyl-6-(2-methyl-4-tetrahydrofuryl methoxybenzoyl)-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(O-acetyloxime), ethylketo-1-[9-ethyl-6-{2-methyl-4-(2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolyl)methoxybenzoyl}-9H-carbazol-3-yl]-1-(0-acetyloxime), 2,4-bis(trichloromethyl)-6-(p-methoxy)styryl-s-triazine, 2-benzyl-2-N,N-dimethylamino-1-(4-morpholinophenyl)-1-butanone, 2,2′-bis(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenylbiimidazole, or 4,4′-bis(diethylamino)benzo phenone or combinations thereof.

The photoinitiator (C) may be used alone or in combinations of two or more.

Based on 100 parts by weight of the used amount of the alkali-soluble resin (A), the used amount of the photoinitiator (C) is from 10 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight, preferably from 15 parts by weight to 80 parts by weight, and more preferably from 20 parts by weight to 60 parts by weight.

Besides, without affecting the physical properties, the photosensitive resin composition further comprises other initiators except from the photoinitiator (C) as mentioned above if necessary. Examples of the other initiators include but are not limited to an α-diketone compound, an acyloin compound, an acyloin ether compound, an acylphosphineoxide compound, a quinine compound, a halide compound, a peroxide compound, or the like.

Examples of the α-diketone compound include but are not limited to a benzil compound, an acetyl compound or combinations thereof.

Examples of the acyloin compound include but are not limited to benzoin or combinations thereof.

Examples of the acyloin ether compound include but are limited to benzoin methylether, benzoin ethylether, benzoin isopropyl ether or combinations thereof.

Examples of the acylphosphine oxide compound include but are not limited to 2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl diphenylphosphine oxide, bis-(2,6-dimethoxybenzoyl)-2,4,4-trimethyl benzyl phosphine oxide or combinations thereof.

Examples of the quinone compound include but are not limited to anthraquinone, 1,4-naphthoquinone or combinations thereof.

Examples of the halide compound include but are not limited to phenacyl chloride, tribromomethyl phenylsulfone, tris(trichloromethyl)-s-triazine or combinations thereof.

Examples of the peroxide compound include but are not limited to di-tert-butyl peroxide or combinations thereof.

The organic solvent (D) according to the invention is able to dissolve the alkali-soluble resin (A), the compound (B) containing the ethylenically unsaturated group, the photoinitiator (C), the pigment (E) and the dye (F), without interacting with the components described above, and has a suitable volatility.

In addition, the organic solvent (D) may be the same as the organic solvent used in preparation of the second alkali-soluble resin (A-2) and is not repeated again. Preferably, the organic solvent (D) is propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate, ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate or combinations thereof.

Based on 100 parts by weight of the used amount of the alkali-soluble resin (A), the used amount of the organic solvent (D) is from 500 parts by weight to 5000 parts by weight, preferably 800 parts by weight to 4500 parts by weight, and more preferably 1000 parts by weight to 4000 parts by weight.

The photosensitive resin composition for the color filter according to the invention may comprise the pigment (E) wherein the pigment (E) is an inorganic pigment, organic pigment or combinations thereof.

The inorganic pigment may be metal compounds such as metal oxides, metal complex salt compounds or the like. The metal oxide may be an oxide of iron, cobalt, aluminum, cadmium, lead, copper, titanium, magnesium, chromium, zinc, antimony or the like or a composite oxide of the aforementioned metal.

Examples of the aforementioned organic pigment are C.I. Pigment Yellow 1, 3, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20, 24, 31, 53, 55, 60, 61, 65, 71, 73, 74, 81, 83, 93, 95, 97, 98, 99, 100, 101, 104, 106, 108, 109, 110, 113, 114, 116, 117, 119, 120, 126, 127, 128, 129, 138, 139, 150, 151, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 166, 167, 168, 175; C.I. Pigment Orange 1, 5, 13, 14, 16, 17, 24, 34, 36, 38, 40, 43, 46, 49, 51, 61, 63, 64, 71, 73; C.I. Pigment Red 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 21, 22, 23, 30, 31, 32, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 48:1, 48:2, 48:3, 48:4, 49:1, 49:2, 50:1, 52:1, 53:1, 57, 57:1, 57:2, 58:2, 58:4, 60:1, 63:1, 63:2, 64:1, 81:1, 83, 88, 90:1, 97, 101, 102, 104, 105, 106, 108, 112, 113, 114, 122, 123, 144, 146, 149, 150, 151, 155, 166, 168, 170, 171, 172, 174, 175, 176, 177, 178, 179, 180, 185, 187, 188, 190, 193, 194, 202, 206, 207, 208, 209, 215, 216, 220, 224, 226, 242, 243, 245, 254, 255, 264, 265; C.I. Pigment Purple 1, 19, 23, 29, 32, 36, 38, 39; C.I. Pigment Blue 1, 2, 15, 15:3, 15:4, 15:6, 16, 22, 60, 66; C.I. Pigment Green 7, 36, 37: C.I. Pigment Brown 23, 25, 28; or Pigment Black 1, 7.

Based on 100 parts by weight of the used amount of the alkali-soluble resin (A), the used amount of the pigment (E) is from 20 parts by weight to 200 parts by weight, preferably 30 parts by weight to 160 parts by weight, and more preferably 40 parts by weight to 120 parts by weight.

In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the photosensitive resin composition for the color filter according to the invention further comprises a dye (F). The dye (F) according to the present invention may be used with the use of the pigment (E). The dye (F) with a specific spectrum can be chosen by skilled artisans in this field. In the embodiment of the invention, the dye (F) is azo dyes, azo-metal complex dyes, anthraquinone dyes, indigo dyes, thioindigo dyes, phthalocyanine dyes, diphenylmethane dyes, triphenylmethane dyes, xanthene dyes, thiazine dyes, cationic dyes, cyanine dyes, nitro dyes, quinoline dyes, naphthoquinone dyes, oxazine dyes, or the like.

In one embodiment of the invention, a red dye is C.I. Acid Red 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24, 25, 25:1, 26, 26:1, 26:2, 27, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 47, 50, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 59, 60, 62, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 70, 71, 73, 74, 76, 76:1, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 91, 92, 93, 97, 99, 102, 104, 106, 107, 108, 110, 111, 113, 114, 115, 116, 120, 123, 125, 127, 128, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 137, 138, 141, 142, 143, 144, 148, 150, 151, 152, 154, 155, 157, 158, 160, 161, 163, 164, 167, 170, 171, 172, 173, 175, 176, 177, 181, 229, 231, 237, 239, 240, 241, 242, 249, 252, 253, 255, 257, 260, 263, 264, 266, 267, 274, 276, 280, 286, 289, 299, 306, 309, 311, 323, 333, 324, 325, 326, 334, 335, 336, 337, 340, 343, 344, 347, 348, 350, 351, 353, 354, 356, 388 or the like; and

C.I. Direct Red 1, 2, 2:1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 10:1, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26, 26:1, 28, 29, 31, 33, 33:1, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 42, 43, 43:1, 44, 46, 49, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 67, 67:1, 68, 72, 72:1, 73, 74, 75, 77, 78, 79, 81, 81:1, 85, 86, 88, 89, 90, 97, 100, 101, 101:1, 107, 108, 110, 114, 116, 117, 120, 121, 122, 122:1, 124, 125, 127, 127:1, 127:2, 128, 129, 130, 132, 134, 135, 136, 137, 138, 140, 141, 148, 149, 150, 152, 153, 154, 155, 156, 169, 171, 172, 173, 174, 175, 176, 177, 179, 180, 181, 182, 185, 186, 189, 204, 211, 213, 214, 217, 222, 224, 225, 226, 227, 228, 232, 236, 237, 238 or the like.

In one embodiment of the invention, a yellow dye is C.I. Acid Yellow 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 9:1, 10, 11, 11:1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 17:1, 18, 20, 21, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 36, 38, 39, 40, 40:1, 41, 42, 42:1, 43, 44, 46, 48, 51, 53, 55, 56, 60, 63, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 72, 76, 82, 83, 84, 86, 87, 90, 94, 105, 115, 117, 122, 127, 131, 132, 136, 141, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 149, 153, 159, 166, 168, 169, 172, 174, 175, 178, 180, 183, 187, 188, 189, 190, 191, 192, 199 or the like; and

C.I. Direct Yellow 1, 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 15, 20, 24, 25, 26, 32, 33, 34, 35, 41, 42, 44, 44:1, 45, 46, 48, 49, 50, 51, 61, 66, 67, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74, 81, 84, 86, 90, 91, 92, 95, 107, 110, 117, 118, 119, 120, 121, 126, 127, 129, 132, 133, 134 or the like.

In one embodiment of the invention, an orange dye is C.I. Acid Orange 1, 1:1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 20:1, 22, 23, 24, 24:1, 25, 27, 28, 28:1, 30, 31, 33, 35, 36, 37, 38, 41, 45, 49, 50, 51, 54, 55, 56, 59, 79, 83, 94, 95, 102, 106, 116, 117, 119, 128, 131, 132, 134, 136, 138; and

C.I. Direct Orange 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 13, 17, 19, 20, 21, 24, 25, 26, 29, 29:1, 30, 31, 32, 33, 43, 49, 51, 56, 59, 69, 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 79, 80, 83, 84, 85, 87, 88, 90, 91, 92, 95, 96, 97, 98, 101, 102, 102:1, 104, 108, 112, 114 or the like.

In one embodiment of the invention, a blue dye is C.I. Acid Blue 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 29, 34, 35, 37, 40, 41, 41:1, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 62, 62:1, 63, 64, 65, 68, 69, 70, 73, 75, 78, 79, 80, 81, 83, 84, 85, 86, 88, 89, 90, 90:1, 91, 92, 93, 95, 96, 99, 100, 103, 104, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 123, 124, 127, 127:1, 128, 129, 135, 137, 138, 143, 145, 147, 150, 155, 159, 169, 174, 175, 176, 183, 198, 203, 204, 205, 206, 208, 213, 227, 230, 231, 232, 233, 235, 239, 245, 247, 253, 257, 258, 260, 261, 262, 264, 266, 269, 271, 272, 273, 274, 277, 278, 280 or the like; and

C.I. Direct Blue 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 8:1, 9, 10, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 21:1, 22, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 35, 36, 37, 40, 42, 45, 48, 49, 50, 53, 54, 55, 58, 60, 61, 64, 65, 67, 79, 96, 97, 98:1, 101, 106, 107, 108, 109, 111, 116, 122, 123, 124, 128, 129, 130, 130:1, 132, 136, 138, 140, 145, 146, 149, 152, 153, 154, 156, 158, 158:1, 164, 165, 166, 167, 168, 169, 170, 174, 177, 181, 184, 185, 188, 190, 192, 193, 206, 207, 209, 213, 215, 225, 226, 229, 230, 231, 242, 243, 244, 253, 254, 260, 263 or the like.

In one embodiment of the invention, a purple dye is C.I. Acid Purple 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5:1, 6, 7, 7:1, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 27, 29, 30, 31, 33, 34, 36, 38, 39, 41, 42, 43, 47, 49, 51, 63, 67, 72, 76, 96, 97, 102, 106, 109 or the like; and

C.I. Direct Purple 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 18, 21, 22, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 45, 51, 52, 54, 57, 58, 61, 62, 63, 64, 71, 72, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 85, 86, 87, 88, 93, 97 or the like.

In one embodiment of the invention, a green dye is C.I. Acid Green 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 25, 25:1, 27, 34, 36, 37, 38, 40, 41, 42, 44, 54, 55, 59, 66, 69, 70, 71, 81, 84, 94, 95 or the like; and

C.I. Direct Green 11, 13, 14, 24, 30, 34, 38, 42, 49, 55, 56, 57, 60, 78, 79, 80 or the like.

Based on 100 parts by weight of the used amount of the alkali-soluble resin (A), the used amount of the dye (F) is from 3 part by weight to 30 parts by weight, preferably 4 parts by weight to 25 parts by weight, more preferably 5 part by weight to 20 parts by weight.

Without affecting the physical properties, the photosensitive resin composition further comprises an additives (G). Examples of the additives (G) include but are not limited to fillers, polymers other than the alkali-soluble resin (A), adhesion-promoting agents, antioxidants, UV absorbents, anti-coagulants or the like.

Examples of the fillers include but are not limited to glass, aluminum or the like.

Examples of the polymers other than the alkali-soluble resin (A) include but are not limited to polyvinyl alcohol, polyethylene glycol monoalkyl ether, polyfluoro alkyl acrylate or combinations thereof.

Examples of the adhesion-promoting agents include but are not limited to vinyltrimethoxysilane, vinyltriethoxysilane, vinyltris(2-methoxyethoxy)silane, N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropylmethyldimethoxysilane, N-(2-aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, 3-glycidyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-glycidyloxypropylmethyldimethoxy silane, 2-(3,4-epoxycyclohexyl)ethyltrimethoxysilane, 3-chloropropylmethyl dimethoxysilane, 3-chloropropyltrimethoxysilane, 3-methacryl oxypropyl trimethoxysilane, 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane or combinations thereof.

Examples of the antioxidants include but are not limited to 2,2-thiobis(4-methyl-6-t-butylphenol), 2,6-di-t-butylphenol or combinations thereof.

Examples of the UV absorbents include but are not limited to 2-(3-t-butyl-5-methyl-2-hydroxyphenyl)-5-chlorobenzotriazole, alkoxybenzophenone or combinations thereof.

Examples of the anti-coagulants include but are not limited to sodium polyacrylate or the like.

Based on 100 parts by weight of the used amount of the alkali-soluble resin (A), the used amount of the additives (G) is from 1 part by weight to 10 parts by weight; preferably 1.5 parts by weight to 9 parts by weight; more preferably 2 part by weight to 8 parts by weight.

The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a color filter comprising forming a protective film with the photosensitive resin composition for the color filter as mentioned above.

The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing a color filter comprising forming a pixel layer with the photosensitive resin composition for the color filter as mentioned above.

The present invention further provides a color filter manufactured by the method as mentioned above.

Preferably, the color filter comprises the pixel layer and the pixel layer is formed by the photosensitive resin composition.

The photosensitive resin composition according to the invention is prepared by, for instance, placing and stirring the alkali-soluble resin (A), the compound containing the ethylenically unsaturated group (B), the photoinitiator (C), the organic solvent (D) in an agitator such that the ingredients are evenly mixed into a solution state. When necessary, the pigment (E), the dye (F) and the additives (G) may be added. After the solution is evenly mixed, the photosensitive resin composition in a solution state can be obtained.

The manner for manufacturing the photosensitive resin composition for the color filter according to the invention is not particularly limited. For example, a part of the alkali-soluble resin (A) and the compound (B) containing the ethylenically unsaturated group is dispersed in a part of the organic solvent (D) first, to obtain dispersion. Then, the rest of alkali-soluble resin (A), the compound (B) containing the ethylenically unsaturated group; the photoinitiator (C) and the organic solvent (D) are mixed.

The manner for manufacturing the photosensitive resin composition for the color filter according to the invention is not particularly limited. For example, the pigment (E) may be added directly to the photosensitive resin composition for the color filter and dispersed, or a part of the pigment (E) is dispersed in a part of the alkali-soluble resin (A) and the organic solvent (D) first, to obtain dispersion. Then, the rest of alkali-soluble resin (A), the compound (B) containing the ethylenically unsaturated group; the photoinitiator (C) and the remaining parts of the organic solvent (D) are then mixed. The dispersing step of the pigment (E) may be carried out by mixing the above ingredients with a mixer such as a beads mill or a roll mill.

The method for manufacturing the color filter comprises applying the photosensitive resin composition according to the invention on a substrate by a spin coating method, a cast coating method, a roller coating method, or the like. The substrate used to form the color filter is made from bare glass, soda glass, Pyrex glass, silica glass, or any one of these glass coated with a transparent conductive film, or a transparent electrode substrate (such as a Si substrate) used in solid state image pick up devices. Before coating the photosensitive resin composition on the substrate, a black matrix is formed on the substrate to separate each color pixel element such as red, green, blue or the like.

After coating, the photosensitive resin composition is then dried under reduced pressure to remove most of the solvent. After completely evaporating the residual solvent by pre-baking, a coating film is formed. Operation conditions for the drying under reduced pressure and the pre-baking depend on kinds and amounts of the components used in the photosensitive resin composition. In general, the drying under reduced pressure is carried out at a pressure from 0 to 200 mm Hg for a period from 1 to 60 seconds. The pre-baking is carried out at a temperature from 70° C. to 110° C. for a period from 1 to 15 minutes.

The coating film is then exposed to UV light through a specific photo mask. Preferably, the UV light used for the exposure of the coating film can be g line, h line, i line, or the like. The UV lamp for providing the UV light is a (ultra)high-pressure mercury lamp or a metal halide lamp.

After exposure, the coating film is developed in a developer solution at a temperature of 23±2° C. for a period from 15 seconds to 5 minutes to dissolve and remove the unexposed portions of the coating film so as to obtain a desired pattern. In one preferred embodiment of the invention, the developer solution is preferably an alkali aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, sodium hydrogencarbonate, potassium carbonate, potassium hydrogencarbonate, sodium silicate, sodium methylsilicate, aqueous ammonia, ethylamine, diethylamine, dimethyl ethanolamine, tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide, tetraethylammonium hydroxide, choline, pyrrole, piperidine, 1,8-diaza-bicyclo(5,4,0)-7-undecene, or the like. The concentration of the developer in the solution is from 0.001 wt % to 10 wt %, preferably from 0.005 wt % to 5 wt %, and more preferably from 0.01 wt % to 1 wt %.

Thereafter, the patterns on the substrate are washed by water, and then dried by using compressed air or nitrogen gas. Then, the patterns are subjected to a post-baked process with heating device such as a hot plate or an oven. The post-baked process can be carried out at 150° C. to 250° C. for 5 to 60 minutes with the hot plate or 15 to 150 minutes with the oven to obtain the color pixel layer. The pixel color layers such as red, green, blue and the like may be formed on the substrate by repeating the aforementioned steps.

The method for manufacturing the protective film according to the invention comprises coating the photosensitive resin composition as mentioned above on the substrate with the aforementioned color pixel layer, performing a post-baking process with heating treatment for removing the solvent to form the protective film of the color filter.

The manner of coating comprises a spray coating method, a roller coating method, a spin coating method, a bar coating method, an ink jet method or the like. Preferably, the manner of coating preferably uses a spin coater, spin loess coating machine and slit-diemachine.

The condition of pre-baking depends on kinds and amounts of the components used in the photosensitive resin composition. In general, the pre-baking is carried out at a temperature from 70° C. to 90° C. for a period from 1 to 15 minutes. After pre-baking, the thickness of the coating film is from 0.15 μm to 8.5 μm, preferably 0.15 μm to 6.5 μm, and more preferably 0.15 μm to 4.5 μm. The thickness of the coating film is the thickness after removing the solvent.

After the pre-baking film is formed, the film is subjected to a post-baking process with a heating device such as a hot plate or an oven. The post-baking process can be carried out at 150° C. to 250° C. for 5 to 30 minutes with the hot plate or 30 to 90 minutes with the oven.

When a photosensitive resin composition uses a photoinitiator, the photosensitive resin composition may be coated on a substrate surface if necessary, and the solvent is removed to form a coating film by pre-baking process. Then, the coating film is subjected to an exposure process.

Examples of the light used for the aforementioned exposure include but are not limited to visible light, UV light, UVA light, electron beam, X-rays or the like. Preferably, the light comprises UV light and the wavelength is form 190 nm to 450 nm.

Preferably, the exposure amount of the aforementioned exposure process is 100 J/m² to 20,000 J/m², and more preferably 150 J/m² to 10,000 J/m².

After the exposure process is finished, the coating film is subjected to a post-baking process with a heating device such as a hot plate or an oven. The post-baking process can be carried out at 150° C. to 250° C. for 5 to 30 minutes with the hot plate or 30 to 90 minutes with the oven.

After the pixel color layers such as red, green, blue and the protective film are formed, the surface of the protective film is sputtered under a vacuum environment of a temperature of 220° C. to 250° C. to form an indium tin oxide (ITO) protective film. If necessary, the ITO film is further coated with a liquid crystal alignment film after etching and wiring, thereby firing, a color filter for a liquid crystal display device is obtained.

The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device comprising the color filter as mentioned above.

The liquid crystal display device according to the invention may be formed by the following method: the color filter substrate formed by the preparation method of the color filter and a driving substrate with a thin film transistor (TFT) are placed opposite to each other with a gap (cell gap) between the two, and then the surrounding area of the two substrates is laminated with a sealing agent. Next, a liquid crystal is injected into the gap separated by the surface of the substrates and the sealing agent to seal the injection hole and to form a liquid crystal cell. Then, a polarizer is laminated to the outer surface of the liquid crystal cell, i.e. the other side surfaces of each of the substrates forming the liquid crystal cell so as to fabricate the liquid crystal display device. The aforementioned liquid crystal and the liquid crystal alignment film are not particularly limited and the liquid crystal and the liquid crystal alignment film may be chosen by skilled artisans in this field.

The following examples are given for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

Synthesis Example 1

A reaction vessel was added with 106 g of isocyanuric acid and 420 ml of water of slurry, and then 206 g of 48% sodium hydroxide solution was dropped into the aforementioned mixture. After the mixture was reacted for 2 hours at 60 to 70° C., water was removed, and the mixture was washed by methanol and then dried to obtain 157.5 g of sodium isocyanurate as white crystal. Then, the reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer and a condenser was added with 400 ml of dimethylformamide as a solvent for reacting 157.5 g of sodium isocyanurate and 290.4 g of 3-bromo-1-propylene for 6 hours at 120 to 125° C., and then an inorganic salt was filtered off. Toluene was extracted out and the reactants were washed with water and dried and the solvent was dried to obtain 154.6 g of triallyl isocyanurate (Mw=249.3) as pale brown oil. 8700 ml of dichloromethane was taken as a solvent, and 154.6 g of triallyl isocyanurate and 535 g of m-chloroperbenzoic acid (not higher than 30° C.) was slowly added into a cooler and stirred and reacted at 25° C. for 4 hours. After completing the reaction, 3000 ml of 10% sodium bisulfite solution was slowly added at 20° C., and then an insoluble material was filtered off. Chloroform was added for extraction, and the reactants were washed thoroughly with 10% sodium bisulfite solution and saturated sodium bicarbonate solution. After drying and distilling the solvent, an epoxy compound was obtained. The aforementioned product was purified with silica gel chromatograph to obtain 118 g of transparent oil. The obtained epoxy compound was monoallyldiglycidyl isocyanurate (Mw=281).

A 500 mL four-necked flask was continuously added with 100 parts by weight of the compound prepared in the aforementioned, 50 parts by weight of acrylic acid, 0.5 parts by weight of benzyltriethylammonium chloride, 0.2 parts by weight of 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol, and 130 parts by weight of propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, wherein the feeding rate was controlled at 25 parts by weight/min, the temperature was maintained in the range of 100° C. to 110° C., and the mixture was reacted for 15 hours to obtain an intermediate product containing hydroxyl groups (Si).

Synthesis Example 2

A reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer and a condenser was added with 400 ml of dimethylformamide as a solvent for reacting 157.5 g of sodium isocyanurate, 96.8 g of 3-bromo-1-propylene and 216 g of 3-bromo-2-methyl propene for 6 hours at 120 to 125° C., and then an inorganic salt was filtered off. Toluene was extracted out and the reactants were washed with water and dried and the solvent was dried to obtain 171.7 g of 1-(allyl)-3,5(2-methyl-propenyl) isocyanurate (Mw=277) as pale brown oil. 8700 ml of dichloromethane was taken as a solvent, and 171.7 g of 1-(allyl)-3,5(2-methyl-propenyl) isocyanurate and 535 g of m-chloroperbenzoic acid (not higher than 30° C.) was slowly added into a cooler and stirred and reacted at 25° C. for 4 hours. After completing the reaction, 3000 ml of 10% sodium bisulfite solution was slowly added at 20° C., and then an insoluble material was filtered off. Chloroform was added for extraction, and the reactants were washed thoroughly with 10% sodium bisulfite solution and saturated sodium bicarbonate solution. After drying and distilling the solvent, an epoxy compound was obtained. The aforementioned product was purified with silica gel chromatograph to obtain 129.8 g of transparent oil. The obtained epoxy compound was 1-allyl-3,5-bis(2-methyl-epoxy propyl) isocyanurate (Mw=309).

A 500 mL four-necked flask was continuously added with 100 parts by weight of the compound prepared in the aforementioned, 55 parts by weight of methacrylic acid, 0.5 parts by weight of benzyltriethylammonium chloride, 0.2 parts by weight of 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol, and 130 parts by weight of propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, wherein the feeding rate was controlled at 25 parts by weight/min, the temperature was maintained in the range of 100° C. to 110° C., and the mixture was reacted for 15 hours to obtain an intermediate product containing hydroxyl groups (S2).

Synthesis Example 3

A reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer and a condenser was added with 400 ml of dimethylformamide as a solvent for reacting 157.5 g of sodium isocyanurate, 193.6 g of 3-bromo-1-propylene and 108 g of 3-bromo-2-methyl propene for 6 hours at 120 to 125° C., and then an inorganic salt was filtered off. Toluene was extracted out and the reactants were washed with water and dried and the solvent was dried to obtain 163.2 g of 1-(2-methyl-propenyl)-3,5-(3-propenyl) isocyanurate (Mw=263.3) as pale brown oil. 8700 ml of dichloromethane was taken as a solvent, and 163.2 g of 1-(2-methyl-propenyl)-3,5-(3-propenyl) isocyanurate and 535 g of m-chloroperbenzoic acid (not higher than 30° C.) was slowly added into a cooler and stirred at 25° C. for 4 hours. After completing the reaction, 3000 ml of 10% sodium bisulfite solution was slowly added at 20° C., and then an insoluble material was filtered off. Chloroform was added for extraction, and the reactants were washed thoroughly with 10% sodium bisulfite solution and saturated sodium bicarbonate solution. After drying and distilling the solvent, epoxy compound was obtained. The aforementioned product was purified by silica gel chromatograph to obtain 123.9 g of transparent oil. The obtained epoxy compound was 1-(2-methyl-propenyl)-3,5-diglycidyl isocyanurate (Mw=295).

A 500 mL four-necked flask was added with 100 parts by weight of the compound prepared in the aforementioned, 155 parts by weight of 2-methacryloyloxyethylbutanedioic acid (Mw=230), 0.3 parts by weight of methoxyphenol, 0.2 parts by weight of triphenyl phosphine, and 130 parts by weight of propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, wherein the temperature was maintained at 95° C., and the mixture was reacted for 9 hours to obtain an intermediate product containing hydroxyl groups (S3).

Synthesis Example 4

A reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer and a condenser was added with 400 ml of dimethylformamide as a solvent for reacting 157.5 g of sodium isocyanurate, 324 g of 3-bromo-2-methyl propene for 6 hours at 120 to 125° C., and then an inorganic salt was filtered off. Toluene was extracted out and the reactants were washed with water and dried and the solvent was dried to obtain 180.4 g of tris-2-methyl-propenyl isocyanurate (Mw=291) as pale brown oil. 8700 ml of dichloromethane was taken as a solvent, and 180.4 g of tris-2-methyl-propenyl isocyanurate and 535 g of m-chloroperbenzoic acid (not higher than 30° C.) was slowly added into a cooler and stirred and reacted at 25° C. for 4 hours. After completing the reaction, 3000 ml of 10% sodium bisulfite solution was slowly added at 20° C., and then an insoluble material was filtered off. Chloroform was added for extraction, and the reactants were washed thoroughly with 10% sodium bisulfite solution and saturated sodium bicarbonate solution. After drying and distilling the solvent to obtain an epoxy compound. The aforementioned product can be purified by silica gel chromatograph to obtain 135.7 g of transparent oil. The obtained epoxy compound was 1-(2-methyl-propenyl)-3,5-bis(2-methyl-epoxy propyl) isocyanurate (Mw=323).

A 500 mL four-necked flask was continuously added with 100 parts by weight of the compound prepared in the aforementioned, 140 parts by weight of 2-methacryloyloxyethylbutanedioic acid (Mw=230), 0.4 parts by weight of benzyltriethylammonium chloride, 0.1 parts by weight of 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol, and 130 parts by weight of propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, wherein the feeding rate was controlled at 25 parts by weight/min, the temperature was maintained in the range of 100° C. to 110° C., and the mixture was reacted for 15 hours to obtain an intermediate product containing hydroxyl groups (S4).

Synthesis Example 5

A reaction vessel was added with 106 g of isocyanuric acid and 420 ml of water of slurry, and then 206 g of 48% sodium hydroxide solution was dropped into the aforementioned mixture. After the mixture was reacted for 2 hours at 60 to 70° C., water was removed, and the mixture was washed by methanol and then dried to obtain 157.5 g of sodium isocyanurate as white crystal. Then, the reaction vessel equipped with a stirrer and a condenser was added with 400 ml of dimethylformamide as a solvent for reacting 157.5 g of sodium isocyanurate and 361.4 g of 5-bromo-1-pentene for 6 hours at 120 to 125° C., and then an inorganic salt was filtered off. Toluene was extracted out and the reactants were washed with water and dried and the solvent was dried to obtain 205 g of tris-5-pentenyl isocyanurate as pale brown oil. 8700 ml of dichloromethane was taken as a solvent, and 205 g of tris-5-pentenyl isocyanurate (Mw=333) and 815 g of m-chloroperbenzoic acid (not higher than 30° C.) was slowly added into a cooler and stirred and reacted at 25° C. for 4 hours. After completing the reaction, 3000 ml of 10% sodium bisulfite solution was slowly added at 20° C., and then an insoluble material was filtered off. Chloroform was added for extraction, and the reactants were washed thoroughly with 10% sodium bisulfite solution and saturated sodium bicarbonate solution. After drying and distilling the solvent, an epoxy compound was obtained. The aforementioned product was purified by silica gel chromatograph to obtain 161.7 g of transparent oil. The obtained epoxy compound was tris-(4,5-epoxypentyl) isocyanurate represented by Formula (1-2) (Mw=381).

A 500 mL four-necked flask was continuously added with 100 parts by weight of the compound prepared in the aforementioned, 60 parts by weight of acrylic acid, 0.6 parts by weight of benzyltriethylammonium chloride, 0.2 parts by weight of 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol, and 130 parts by weight of propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, wherein the feeding rate was controlled at 25 parts by weight/min, the temperature was maintained in the range of 100° C. to 110° C., and the mixture was reacted for 15 hours to obtain an intermediate product containing hydroxyl groups (S5).

Synthesis of First Alkali-Soluble Resin (A-1) Synthesis Example A-1-1

A reaction vessel was continuously added with 1 mole of the intermediate product containing the hydroxyl groups (S1) prepared in Synthesis Example 1, 1.3 g of benzyltriethylammonium chloride, and 0.4 g of 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol, and then the mixture solution was dissolved in 500 g of propylene glycol methyl ether acetate and 0.2 moles of 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride and 1.6 moles of butanedioic anhydride were added simultaneously. The mixture solution was heated to 110° C. for 2 hours (simultaneously added) to obtain the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1-1), wherein the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1-1) had an acid value of 170 mgKOH/g and a weight average molecular weight was 717.

Synthesis Example A-1-2

A reaction vessel was continuously added with 1 mole of the intermediate product containing the hydroxyl groups (S2) prepared in Synthesis Example 2, 1.4 g of benzyltriethylammonium chloride, and 0.5 g of 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol, and then the mixture solution was dissolved in 600 g of propylene glycol methyl ether acetate and 0.3 moles of 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride was added. The mixture solution was heated to 90° C. for 2 hours, then 1.4 moles of phthalic anhydride was added and the mixture solution was reacted for 4 hours (continuously added) at 90° C. to obtain the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1-2), wherein the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1-2) had an acid value of 140 mgKOH/g and a weight average molecular weight was 1205.

Synthesis Examples A-1-3 to A-1-8

Examples A-1-3 to A-1-8 were synthesized with the same method as in Examples A-1-1 and A-1-2 by using various kinds or amounts of the reactants for the first alkali-soluble resin listed in Table 1.

TABLE 1 Synthesis of first alkali-soluble resin (A-1) Component for Copolymerization Component of (a-1-3) (mole) 3,3′,4,4′- 3,3′,4,4′- 3,3′,4,4′-oxy- Synthesis Example biphenyl benzophenone diphenyl (mole) tetracarboxylic tetracarboxylic tetracarboxylic butanedioic phthalic glutaric 1 2 3 4 5 dianhydride dianhydride dianhydride anhydride anhydride anhydride A-1-1 1.0 0.2 1.6 A-1-2 1.0 0.3 1.4 A-1-3 1.0 0.4 1.2 A-1-4 1.0 0.5 1.0 A-1-5 1.0 0.6 0.6 0.2 A-1-6 0.3 0.7 0.7 0.6 A-1-7 0.4 0.6 0.4 0.4 0.4 A-1-8 0.5 0.5 0.9 0.2 Catalyst (g) inhibitor (g) Solvent (g) benzyltriethyl- 2,6-di-t- propylene glycol ethyl Reac. Reac. Feeding ammonium butyl- monomethyl 3-ethoxy- Temp. Time Acid manner chloride p-cresol ether acetate propionate (° C.) (hrs) Value Mn A-1-1 simultaneously 1.3 0.4 500 110 2 170  717 A-1-2 sequentially 1.4 0.5 600 90 2 4 140 1205 A-1-3 simultaneously 2.3 0.8 700 100 115 1.5 110 1981 A-1-4 sequentially 2.3 0.8 800 50 95 1.5 4 100 2816 A-1-5 simultaneously 1.8 0.6 700 110 2 130 3103 A-1-6 sequentially 2.0 0.7 600 150 90 2 3.5 115 3386 A-1-7 simultaneously 2.0 0.7 750 115 1.5 120 3824 A-1-8 sequentially 2.0 0.7 600 200 95 2 3.5 120 4520

Synthesis of Second Alkali-Soluble Resin (A-2) Synthesis Example A-2-1

A 500 mL four-necked flask was continuously added with 100 parts by weight of a fluorene epoxy compound (Model ESF-300, manufactured by Nippon Steel Chemical Co., epoxy equivalent 231), 30 parts by weight of acrylic acid, 0.3 parts by weight of benzyltriethylammonium chloride, 0.1 parts by weight of 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol, and 130 parts by weight of propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, wherein the feeding rate was controlled at 25 parts by weight/min, the temperature was maintained in the range of 100° C. to 110° C., and the mixture was reacted for 15 hours to obtain a light yellow and transparent mixture solution having a solid content concentration of 50 wt %.

Next, 100 parts by weight of the mixture solution was dissolved in 25 parts by weight of ethylene glycol ethyl ether acetate, and at the same time, 6 parts by weight of tetrahydrophthalic anhydride and 13 parts by weight of 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride were added, and then the mixture solution was heated to 110° C. to 115° C. and reacted for 2 hours to obtain the second alkali-soluble resin (A-2-1), wherein the second alkali-soluble resin (A-2-1) had an acid value of 98.0 mgKOH/g and a weight average molecular weight was 3103.

Synthesis Example A-2-2

A 500 mL four-necked flask was continuously added with 100 parts by weight of a fluorene epoxy compound (Model ESF-300, manufactured by Nippon Steel Chemical Co., epoxy equivalent 231), 30 parts by weight of acrylic acid, 0.3 parts by weight of benzyltriethylammonium chloride, 0.1 parts by weight of 2,6-di-t-butyl-p-cresol, and 130 parts by weight of propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, wherein the feeding rate was controlled at 25 parts by weight/min, the temperature was maintained in the range of 100° C. to 110° C., and the mixture was reacted for 15 hours to obtain a light yellow and transparent mixture solution having a solid content concentration of 50 wt %.

Next, 100 parts by weight of the mixture solution was dissolved in 25 parts by weight of ethylene glycol ethyl ether acetate, and at the same time, 13 parts by weight of 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride was added, and then the mixture solution was reacted for 2 hours at 90° C. to 95° C. Then, 6 parts by weight of tetrahydrophthalic anhydride was added, and the mixture solution was reacted for 4 hours at 90° C. to 95° C. to obtain the second alkali-soluble resin (A-2-2), wherein the second alkali-soluble resin (A-2-2) had an acid value of 99.0 mgKOH/g and a weight average molecular weight was 4624.

Synthesis Example A-2-3

A reaction vessel was added with 400 parts by weight of an epoxy compound (Model NC-3000, manufactured by Nippon Kayaku Co. Ltd.; epoxy equivalent 288), 102 parts by weight of acrylic acid, 0.3 parts by weight of methoxyphenol, 5 parts by weight of triphenyl phosphine, and 264 parts by weight of propylene glycol methyl ether acetate, wherein the temperature was maintained at 95° C. and the mixture was reacted for 9 hours to obtain an intermediate product having an acid value of 2.2 mgKOH/g. Then, 151 parts by weight of tetrahydrophthalic anhydride was added and the mixture was reacted for 4 hours at 95° C. to obtain the second alkali-soluble resin (A-2-3) having an acid value of 102 mgKOH/g and a weight averaged molecular weight of 5,210.

Synthesis of Third Alkali-Soluble Resin (A-3) Synthesis Example A-3-1

A 1000 ml four-necked flask equipped with a nitrogen inlet, a stirrer, a heater, a condenser and a thermometer was purged with nitrogen, and then 5 parts by weight of 2-methacryloylethoxy succinate (hereinafter as HOMS), 5 parts by weight of dicyclopentenyl acrylate (hereinafter as FA-511A), 40 parts by weight of styrene monomer (hereinafter as SM) and 50 parts by weight of methyl methacrylate (hereinafter as MMA) was dissolved into 200 parts by weight of ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate (hereinafter as EEP); wherein the monomers were continuously fed into the reactor.

After mixing uniformly, the temperature of an oil bath was raised to 100° C. Then, 6 parts by weight of 2,2′-azobis-2-methyl butyronitrile (hereinafter as AMBN) was dissolved into ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate, divided equally into five portions, and added into the four-necked flask portion within an hour.

Polymerization was conducted at 100° C. for 6 hours, and a polymerization product was then taken out of the four-necked flask followed by removal of solvent from the product so as to obtain the third alkali-soluble resin (A-3-1).

Synthesis Examples A-3-2 to A-3-4

Synthesis Examples A-3-2 to A-3-4 were synthesized with the same method as in Synthesis Example A-3-1 by using various kinds or amounts of the reactants for the third alkali-soluble resin. The formulations of Synthesis Examples A-3-2 to A-3-4 were listed in Table 2 rather than focusing or mentioning them in details. The term “continuously added” refers to monomers for copolymerization that are continuously fed into the reactor and continuously reacting and discharging; and the term“simultaneously added” refers to monomers for copolymerization that are entirely fed into the reactor and after the reaction finished, the reactant is discharged simultaneously.

Example 1

100 parts by weight of the aforementioned first alkali-soluble resin synthesized by Synthesis Example A-1-1 (hereinafter as A-1-1), 40 parts by weight of dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate (hereinafter as B-3), 3 parts by weight of 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-morpholino-1-propanone (hereafter as C-1), 5 parts by weight of 2,2′-bis(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenylbiimidazole (hereafter as C-2), 2 parts by weight of 4,4′-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone (hereafter as C-3), 20 parts by weight of the pigment (E-1, wherein the ratio of C.I. Pigment Red 254 and Pigment Yellow 139 was 80/20), 3 parts by weight of C.I. Direct Red 127 (hereafter as F-1), 1 parts by weight of 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane (hereafter as G-1) were added into 500 parts by weight of propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate (hereafter as E-1) and were mixed and dissolved using a shaker to obtain a photosensitive resin composition for a color filter. The obtained photosensitive resin composition for a color filter was subjected to assays shown below and the results are shown in Table 3.

Examples 2 to 14 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6

The preparations of Examples 2 to 14 and Comparative Examples 1 to 6 were similar to that of Example 1 with modifications of the kinds and amounts of the compositions. The compositions and the results of the assays were shown in Tables 3 and 4.

TABLE 2 Composition (parts by weight) Polymer- Copolymerization Condition Monomers for Copolymerization ization Reac. Reac. Synthesis a-3-1 a-3-2 initiator solvent Feeding Temp. Time Example HOMS MAA AA FA-511A FA-512A SM BzMA MMA MA AMBN EEP manner (° C.) (hrs) A-3-1 5 5 40 50 6 200 continuously 100 6 A-3-2 15 30 55 5.5 200 simultanously 105 6 A-3-3 25 15 20 40 6 200 continuously 100 5.5 A-3-4 10 20 30 40 6 200 simultanously 105 6 HOMS 2-methacryloyloxyethyl succinate monoester MAA methacrylic acid AA acrylic acid FA-511A dicyclopentenyl acrylate FA-512A dicyclopentenyloxyethyl acrylate SM styrene monomer BzMA benzyl methacrylate MMA methyl methacrylate MA methacrylate AMBN 2,2′-azobis-2-methyl butyronitrile EEP ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate

TABLE 3 Example Components 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 alkali-soluble resin A-1 A-1-1 100 (A) A-1-2 100 70 (parts by weight) A-1-3 100 60 A-1-4 100 100 A-1-5 100 40 50 A-1-6 45 65 A-1-7 70 10 A-1-8 50 A-2 A-2-1 75 40 A-2-2 15 45 A-2-3 30 A-3 A-3-1 5 30 A-3-2 15 A-3-3 35 A-3-4 50 compound (B) B-1 120 200 200 40 containing an B-2 80 160 240 320 400 200 200 ethylenically B-3 40 200 160 400 unsaturated group B-4 80 200 (parts by weight) photoinitiator (C) C-1 3 10 10 20 40 30 50 50 3 20 50 (parts by weight) C-2 5 10 15 15 30 5 30 40 25 5 15 50 C-3 2 25 30 25 25 2 C-4 15 15 30 20 25 50 15 organic solvent (D) D-1 500 1000 500 1000 1500 1500 5000 3000 500 2500 (parts by weight) D-2 1000 2000 1500 1500 3500 2500 4500 2000 5000 pigment (E) E-1 20 80 140 200 (parts by weight) E-2 40 100 160 200 E-3 60 120 180 dye (F) F-1 3 (parts by weight) F-2 30 F-3 9 additives (G) G-1 1 10 1.0 (parts by weight) G-2 5 Evaluation linearity of pattern ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ ⊚ with high finesse change rate of film ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ◯ ⊚ ⊚ ⋆ ⋆ ⊚ ⊚ ◯ ⊚ ⊚ thickness in thermal solvent

TABLE 4 Comparative Example Components 1 2 3 4 5 6 alkali-soluble resin (A) A-1 A-1-1 (parts by weight) A-1-2 A-1-3 A-1-4 A-1-5 A-1-6 A-1-7 A-1-8 A-2 A-2-1 100 50 A-2-2 50 A-2-3 100 A-3 A-3-1 100 A-3-2 50 A-3-3 100 A-3-4 50 compound (B) containing B-1 120 an ethylenically B-2 160 160 unsaturated group B-3 200 200 (parts by weight) B-4 120 photoinitiator (C) C-1 10 10 20 (parts by weight) C-2 15 15 10 15 15 30 C-3 10 C-4 15 15 30 15 15 organic solvent (D) D-1 500 1000 500 1000 (parts by weight) D-2 1000 2000 1500 1000 2000 1500 pigment (E) E-1 80 (parts by weight) E-2 100 E-3 60 dye (F) F-1 (parts by weight) F-2 F-3 9 additives (G) G-1 (parts by weight) G-2 Evaluation linearity of pattern X X X X X X with high finesse change rate of film Δ Δ ◯ Δ Δ ◯ thickness in thermal solvent

In Tables 3 and 4:

B-1 EO-modified trimethylolpropyl triacrylate B-2 caprolactone-modified dipentaerythritol hexaacrylate B-3 dipentaerythritol pentaacrylate

B-4 Synthesis Example 1

C-1 2-methyl-1-(4-methylthiophenyl)-2-morpholino-1-propanone C-2 2,2′-bis(2,4-dichlorophenyl)-4,4′,5,5′-tetraphenylbiimidazole C-3 (4,4′-bis(diethylamino)benzophenone C-4 1-(4-phenyl-thio-phenyl)-octane-1,2-dion-2-oxime-O-benzoate D-1 ethyl 3-ethoxypropionate D-2 propylene glycol monomethyl ether acetate

E-1 C.I. Pigment Red 254/C.I. Pigment Yellow 139=80/20 E-2 C.I. Pigment Green 36/C.I. Pigment Yellow 150=60/40 E-3 C.I. Pigment Blue 15:6 F-1 C.I. Direct Red 127 F-2 C.I. Acid Green 5 F-3 C.I. Acid Red 289

G-1 3-mercaptopropyltrimethoxysilane G-2 2,2-thiobis(4-methyl-6-t-butylphenol)

Linearity of Pattern with High Finesse

The photosensitive resin composition of the examples and the comparative examples was coated on a glass substrate with a length and width of 100 mm and dried at a pressure of 100 mmHg for 30 seconds. Then, the aforementioned glass substrate was pre-baked at 80° C. for 3 minutes to form a pre-baked coating film having a film thickness of 2.5 μm. The pre-baked coating film was exposed with a mask having a 25 μm (pitch 50 μm) stripe pattern and by ultraviolet light (exposure machine model: PLA-501F; manufactured by Canon) at an energy density of 300 mJ/cm². Then, the pre-baked coating film was immersed in a developing solution at 23° C. for 2 minutes. After washing with pure water, the pre-baked coating film was post-baked in an oven at 200° C. for 80 minutes. A photosensitive resin layer of 2.0 μm film thickness was thus formed on the glass substrate.

A stripe pattern formed by the aforementioned method was observed and evaluated by using an optical microscope. The criteria are shown below:

⊚: good linearity of pattern with high finesse above 95%

◯: good linearity of pattern with high finesse above 90% but below 95%

Δ: good linearity of pattern with high finesse above 80% but below 90%

X: good linearity of pattern with high finesse below 80%

Change Rate of Film Thickness in Thermal Solvent

The photosensitive resin composition for the color filter in a solution state was coated on a 100 mm×100 mm glass substrate by a spin coating method, and dried at a pressure of 100 mmHg for 30 seconds. Then, the aforementioned glass substrate was pre-baked at 80° C. for 2 minutes to form a pre-baked coating film having a film thickness of 2.5 μm. The pre-baked coating film was exposed by ultraviolet light at an energy density of 60 mJ/cm². Then, the pre-baked coating film was immersed in a developing solution at 23° C. for 1 minute. After washing with pure water, the pre-baked coating film was post-baked in an oven at 230° C. After the pre-baking process, the film thickness (T_(i)) was measured. Then, the film was immersed in propylene glycol methyl ether acetate at 60° C. for 6 minutes. The film thickness (T_(f)) was measured. The change rate of film thickness in thermal solvent was measured by the following Equation (I), and the criteria are shown below:

$\begin{matrix} {{{Change}\mspace{14mu} {Rate}\mspace{14mu} {of}\mspace{14mu} {Film}\mspace{14mu} {Thickness}\mspace{14mu} {in}\mspace{14mu} {Thermal}\mspace{14mu} {Solvent}} = {\frac{T_{f} - T_{i}}{T_{i}} \times 100\%}} & {{Equation}\mspace{14mu} (I)} \end{matrix}$

⋆: change rate of film thickness in thermal solvent<1%

⊚: 1%≦change rate of film thickness in thermal solvent<2%

◯: 2%≦change rate of film thickness in thermal solvent<3%

Δ: 3%≦change rate of film thickness in thermal solvent<4%

X: 4%≦change rate of film thickness in thermal solvent

While embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications and improvements can be made by persons skilled in the art. It is intended that the present invention is not limited to the particular forms as illustrated, and that all modifications not departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention are within the scope as defined in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An alkali-soluble resin (A) comprising a first alkali-soluble resin (A-1) obtained by reacting a first mixture, wherein the first mixture comprises an epoxy compound (a-1-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (1) and a compound (a-1-2) having at least one carboxylic acid group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group;

in Formula (1): R¹, R² and R³ independently represent a branched or linear C₁-C₆ alkylene group or a branched or linear C₁-C₆ oxyalkylene group; E¹, E² and E³ independently represent an epoxy-containing group represented by Formula (2), an organic group represented by Formula (3) or a hydrogen atom, wherein at least two of E¹, E² and E³ represent the epoxy-containing group represented by Formula (2); and

in Formulae (2) and (3), R⁴ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
 2. The alkali-soluble resin (A) according to claim 1, wherein R¹, R² and R³ represent a C₁-C₃ alkylene group.
 3. A photosensitive resin composition for a color filter comprising: an alkali-soluble resin (A); a compound (B) containing an ethylenically unsaturated group; a photoinitiator (C); and an organic solvent (D); wherein: the alkali-soluble resin (A) comprising a first alkali-soluble resin to (A-1) obtained by reacting a first mixture, wherein the first mixture comprises an epoxy compound (a-1-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (1) and a compound (a-1-2) having at least one carboxylic acid group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group;

in Formula (1): R¹, R² and R³ independently represent a branched or linear C₁-C₆ alkylene group or a branched or linear C₁-C₆ oxyalkylene group; E¹, E² and E³ independently represent an epoxy-containing group represented by Formula (2), an organic group represented by Formula (3) or a hydrogen atom, wherein at least two of E¹, E² and E³ represent the epoxy-containing group represented by Formula (2); and

in Formulae (2) and (3), R⁴ represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group.
 4. The photosensitive resin composition for the color filter according to claim 3, wherein R¹, R² and R³ represent a C₁-C₃ alkylene group.
 5. The photosensitive resin composition for the color filter according to claim 3, wherein the alkali-soluble resin (A) comprises a second alkali-soluble resin (A-2) obtained by reacting a second mixture, and the second mixture comprises an epoxy compound (a-2-1) having at least two epoxy groups and represented by Formula (4) or (5) and a compound (a-2-2) having at least one carboxylic acid group and at least one ethylenically unsaturated group;

in Formula (4), R⁶¹, R⁶², R⁶³ and R⁶⁴ are the same or different, and independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C₁-C₅ alkyl group, a C₁-C₅ alkoxy group, a C₆-C₁₂ aryl group or a C₆-C₁₂ aralkyl group;

in Formula (5), R⁶⁵ to R⁷⁸ are the same or different, and independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C₁-C₈ alkyl group, or a C₆-C₁₅ aromatic group; and n represents an integer from 0 to
 10. 6. The photosensitive resin composition for the color filter according to claim 3, wherein the alkali-soluble resin (A) comprises a third alkali-soluble resin (A-3) obtained by reacting a third mixture, and the third mixture comprises an ethylenically unsaturated monomer having at least one carboxylic acid groups and an other copolymerizable ethylenically unsaturated monomer.
 7. The photosensitive resin composition for the color filter according to claim 3, wherein based on 100 parts by weight of the used amount of the alkali-soluble resin (A), the used amount of the first alkali-soluble resin (A-1) is from 10 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight.
 8. The photosensitive resin composition for the color filter according to claim 3, wherein based on 100 parts by weight of the used amount of the alkali-soluble resin (A), the used amount of the compound (B) containing the ethylenically unsaturated group is from 40 parts by weight to 400 parts by weight; the used amount of the photoinitiator (C) is from 10 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight; and the used amount of the organic solvent (D) is from 500 parts by weight to 5000 parts by weight.
 9. The photosensitive resin composition for the color filter according to claim 3, which further comprises a pigment (E).
 10. The photosensitive resin composition for the color filter according to claim 9, wherein based on 100 parts by weight of the used amount of the alkali-soluble resin (A), the used amount of the pigment (E) is from 20 parts by weight to 200 parts by weight.
 11. A method for manufacturing a color filter comprising forming a protective film with the photosensitive resin composition for the color filter according to claim
 3. 12. A method for manufacturing a color filter comprising forming a pixel layer with the photosensitive resin composition for the color filter according to claim
 3. 13. A color filter manufactured by the method according to claim
 11. 14. A color filter manufactured by the method according to claim
 12. 15. A liquid crystal display device comprising the color filter according to claim
 13. 16. A liquid crystal display device comprising the color filter according to claim
 14. 